LibGuides: The Coventry University Guide to Referencing in Harvard Style: Visual Sources

How to reference visual sources

General guidance on referencing visual sources

If you incorporate information from visual sources into your text, you must provide both an in-text citation and matching entry in your end List of References. These two components are referenced differently for different types of visual sources.

Take a look at our general guidelines for examples of referencing most types of visual sources.

You can also find guidance on specific types of visual sources by clicking on the relevant tab above.

When you want to reproduce a work of art from either a printed or an online source, there is usually a copyright issue. This will be stated on the image itself or in the introductory material. Follow the guidelines given in your source.
Often reproduction for use in academic assignments which are not formally published is acceptable. If in doubt, ask your module tutor.
Be prepared to use your own judgment when referencing unusual visual sources.
Make sure you give the art or exhibit type in square brackets where applicable, and if appropriate the place of publication of the book, magazine or catalogue and the publisher or else the exhibition.
Be consistent throughout your paper.

General guidelines on referencing visual sources

In-text citation

Example

Figure 3 shows what the old Coventry Cathedral looked like in 1880 (Historic Coventry 2017).

Figure 3: St. Michael's - Coventry's Old Cathedral (Historic Coventry 2017)

Components

Label your image as a Figure, and include the following in your citation:

Surname of the artist (or name of organisation if no author is available).
Year.

If your figure is from a printed source (or an electronic source with page numbers):

A colon.
Page number.

In addition:

Explain who the artist is in your text if possible, providing the full in-text citation.
Discuss the significance of the Figure in full.
Include a List of Figures at the beginning of your document, if required.

List of References entry

Example

Historic Coventry (2017) St. Michael's - The Old Cathedral [online] available from <https://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/cathedrals/oldcathedral.php?pg=oldcathedral> [24 August 2017]

Components

The full end reference in the format required for the kind of source the image was from (take a look at the different source types outlined by the tabs at the top of the page). For example, the reference above follows the format required by a website.

An image or an art figure in a magazine, book or catalogue (print)

In-text citation

Example

Fig.1 represents an image published in The New Yorker (Niemann 2009).

Components

Surname of the artist.
Year of publication.

List of References entry

Example

Niemann, C. (2009) 'Sorry, but I get all the stuff I don’t need on the Internet'. The New Yorker. 10 August, 20

Components

Surname(s) and initial(s) of the artist(s),
Year of publication in brackets.
Title/caption of the image or artwork within single quotation marks, followed by a full stop.
Name of the magazine in italics, followed by a full stop.
The issue date (see date format above).
Page number(s) where image located.

An artwork or image in a magazine accessed electronically

In-text citation

Example

Fig.1 represents an image published in The New Yorker (Niemann 2009).

Components

Surname of the artist.
Year of publication.

List of References entry

Example

Niemann, C. (2009) 'Sorry, but I get all the stuff I don’t need on the Internet'. The New Yorker [online] 10 August. available from
<http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2009/08/10/090810ta_talk_surowiecki> [13 August 2009]

Components

Surname(s) and initial(s) of the artist(s),
Year of publication in brackets.
Title/caption of the image or artwork within single quotation marks, followed by a full stop.
Name of the magazine in italics
The word ‘online’ in square brackets.
Issue date.
The words ‘available from’.
Full URL within chevrons, i.e. < >
Date of access in square brackets. (See date format in the example above).

An advertisement in a printed magazine or newspaper

In-text citation

Example

The LG advertisement in Vanity Fair (Life Tastes Good 2009) catches the readers’ imagination.

Components

Name of the advertisement in italics.
Year of publication.

List of References entry

Example

Life Tastes Good (2009) in Vanity Fair. 12 August, 16

Components

Name of the advertisement in italics.
Year of publication.
The word 'in' and the name of the hosting magazine or newspaper, followed by a full stop.
Issue date, followed by a comma.
Page number where the advert is located.

An advertisement in an electronic magazine or newspaper

In-text citation

Example

The LG advertisement in Vanity Fair (Life Tastes Good 2009) catches the readers’ imagination.

Components

Name of the advertisement in italics.
Year of publication.

List of References entry

Example 1

Life Tastes Good (2009) in Vanity Fair [online] 12 August. available from <http://www.vanityfair.com/> [12 August 2009]

Components

Title of the advertisement in italics.
Year of publication in brackets.
The word 'in', followed by the name of the hosting magazine or newspaper.
The word 'online' in square brackets.
Issue date, followed by a full stop.
The word 'available from'.
Full URL within chevrons, i.e. < >.
Date of access in square brackets. (See date format in example above).

Example 2 (If the advert is located on a website as an image or a video)

Transformers: Revenge of the Former LG Commercial (2009) [online] available from <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLUnwCJV0IA> [13 August 2009]

Components

Title of the advertisement in italics.
Year of release in brackets.
The word 'online' in square brackets.
The words 'available from'.
Full URL within chevrons, i.e. < >.
Date of access in square brackets. (See date format in example above).

A work of art, photograph, illustration or another item in an exhibition or exhibition stand

In-text citation

Example

Tet, 1958 (Louis 2009) was exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Components

Surname and initial(s) of the artist(s) or producer(s) of the artwork or exhibit item.
Year of publication.

List of References entry

Example

Louis, M. (2009) Tet, 1958 [painting] ‘Synthetic’ exhibition. New York: The Whitney Museum of American Art, 22 January-19 April

Components

Surname and initial(s) of the artist(s) or producer(s) of the artwork or exhibit item.
Year of exhibition in brackets.
Title of the work in italics, followed by a comma.
Year of its original production in italics.
Art or exhibit type in square brackets.
Exhibition or exhibition stand within single quotation marks.
Type of event, i.e. 'exhibition' or 'display', followed by a full stop.
Place of the exhibition, followed by a colon.
Museum, gallery or exhibiting institution, followed by a comma.
Exhibition date(s). (See date format in the example above).

An exhibition catalogue or art book

In-text citation

Example

This essay focuses on Gale et al.'s (2008) exhibition illustrating the influence of Salvador Dali on contemporary film.

Components

Surname of the artist(s). If appropriate, use 'et al.'.
Year of publication.

List of References entry

Example

Gale, M., Ades, D., Aguer, M. and Fanes, F. (2008) Dali & Film. New York: The MoMA

Components

Surname and initial(s) of the artist(s).
Publication date in brackets.
Title of the exhibition catalogue or art book in italics, followed by a full stop.
Place, followed by a colon.
Gallery or place of publication.

A map

In-text citation

Example

The Coventry Cycle Paths map (Elms 2005) is very useful for those considering cycling to work.

Components

Surname of the cartographer, compiler, editor (this can be a corporate author as well), copier, or engraver.
Year when the map was published.

List of References entry

Example

Elms, J. (2005) Coventry Cycle Paths. 1:40000. Coventry: Warwickshire Guides

Components

Surname(s) and initial(s) of the cartographer(s), compiler(s), editor(s) (this can be a corporate author as well), copier(s), or engraver(s).
Year in brackets.
Title in italics, followed by a full stop.
Scale of the map (where available), followed by a full stop.
Place of publication, followed by a colon.
Publisher.

An Ordnance Survey map

In-text citation

Example

All distances are provided with reference to the Coventry City Centre map (Ordnance Survey 1990).

Components

The words 'Ordnance Survey' (as author).
Year of publication.

List of References entry

Example

Ordnance Survey (1990) Coventry City Centre. Sheet 55. 1:50000, Warwickshire Series

Components

The words 'Ordnance Survey' (as author).
Year of publication in brackets.
Title in italics, followed by a full stop.
Sheet number, followed by a full stop.
Scale of the map, followed by a comma.
Series.

A leaflet or poster

In-text citation

Example

This effective leaflet (NHS 2009) promotes three easy steps to reduce the spread of germs.

The poster for the latest Iron Man film is very compelling (Iron Man 3 2013).

Components

Surname of the author(s) or corporate author. If the author is not apparent, write the title of the leaflet or of the poster.
Year in brackets.

List of References entry

Example 1 (If the author or corporate author is clear)

National Health Service (2009) Catch It, Bin It, Kill It. Leaflet. Coventry: Walsgrave Hospital

Components

Surname and initials of author(s) or name of corporate author.
Year in brackets.
Title of the leaflet in italics and title case, followed by a full stop.
Type of document, i.e. 'Leaflet' or 'Poster', followed by a full stop.
Place it was displayed, followed by a colon.
Institution where it was displayed.

Example 2 (If the author or corporate author is not apparent)

Iron Man 3 (2013) Poster. Coventry: Odeon Theatre

Components

Title of the leaflet, poster or event, in italics.
Year in brackets.
Type of document, i.e. 'Leaflet' or 'Poster', followed by a full stop.
Place where it was displayed, followed by a colon.
Institution where it was displayed.

Download the Guide

The Coventry University Guide to Referencing in Harvard Style

Essentials

Overview of key elements:

Techniques to integrate sources

How to reference secondary sources (sources within sources)

The Coventry University Guide to Referencing in Harvard Style: Visual Sources

How to reference visual sources

General guidance on referencing visual sources

General guidelines on referencing visual sources

In-text citation

Example

Figure 3 shows what the old Coventry Cathedral looked like in 1880 (Historic Coventry 2017).

Figure 3: St. Michael's - Coventry's Old Cathedral (Historic Coventry 2017)

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

​An image or an art figure in a magazine, book or catalogue (print)

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

​An artwork or image in a magazine accessed electronically

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

​An advertisement in a printed magazine or newspaper

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

​An advertisement in an electronic magazine or newspaper

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example 1

Life Tastes Good (2009) in Vanity Fair [online] 12 August. available from <http://www.vanityfair.com/> [12 August 2009]

Components

Title of the advertisement in italics.

Example 2 (If the advert is located on a website as an image or a video)

Components

​A work of art, photograph, illustration or another item in an exhibition or exhibition stand

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

Surname and initial(s) of the artist(s) or producer(s) of the artwork or exhibit item.

​An exhibition catalogue or art book

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

A map

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

An Ordnance Survey map

In-text citation

Example

Components

List of References entry

Example

Components

A leaflet or poster

In-text citation

Example

Components

An image or an art figure in a magazine, book or catalogue (print)

An artwork or image in a magazine accessed electronically

An advertisement in a printed magazine or newspaper

An advertisement in an electronic magazine or newspaper

A work of art, photograph, illustration or another item in an exhibition or exhibition stand

An exhibition catalogue or art book