Overview
The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, funded by the Heilbrunn Foundation, New Tamarind Foundation, and Zodiac Fund, is a chronological, geographical,
and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world,
as illustrated especially by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
The Museum's curatorial, conservation, and education staff—the largest team of art experts anywhere in the world—research
and write the Timeline, which is an invaluable reference and research tool for students, educators, scholars, and anyone interested in the study of art history and related subjects. First launched in 2000, the Timeline now extends from prehistory to the present day. It will continue to expand in scope and depth, and also reflect the most up-to-date scholarship.
Works of Art
The works of art in the Metropolitan's collection celebrate human
creativity from around the world and from all eras. The Heilbrunn Timeline of
Art History places the Museum's collection in a comprehensive chronological,
geographical, and thematic context. Each image is accompanied by supporting
material and can be enlarged for closer scrutiny. The Timeline comprises nearly 6000 works and so does not include all of the works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Timelines and Maps
The basic structure is
chronological and geographical. The
timelines—accompanied
by world and regional maps—provide a linear outline
of art history, and allow visitors to compare and contrast art from around the globe at any time in history. Each timeline includes representative
art from the Museum's collection, a chart of time periods, a map of the
region, an overview, and a list of key events.
Exploring Particular Themes
Thematic essays focus on specific themes in
art history. They cover subjects such as artistic movements and periods, archaeological sites, empires and civilizations, recurrent themes and concepts, media such as painting, sculpture, and ceramics, and artists. Thematic essays often demonstrate the cross-fertilization of civilizations and include additional maps and comparative images, and links to relevant websites. Each essay has links to related themes and timelines.
Indexes and Search
The Timeline is indexed by
thematic essays,
works of art,
subject, and
artist, offering a wide variety of research methods. Links to these indexes and a keyword search box are provided on the top of each page. Each provides methods for more directed research.
