CHArt CHArt Computers and the History of Art - 1997 Conference Paper Abstract
The Index of Christian Art was founded in 1917 and as such celebrates the 80th Anniversary of its foundation this year.
It is an iconographical analysis of medieval art from early apostolic times up to 1400 arranged in two files. Encompassing some 250,000 images and nearly 600,000 card records the computerization programme was introduced in 1991.
In 1997 the Index entered a new phase in its history with the online publication of the database on the internet. An application which has been universally applauded for the clarity of presentation and coverage. This paper explores the history of the project against the changing role of the library as a provider of information.
Colum Hourihane is Director of the Index of Christian Art at Princeton University.