Individual artists cannot be identified by medium unless they are mentioned in the articles on those topics. Although there is an article about silversmith Paul Revere, he is not listed under silver in the index nor is there any classified listing of artists that would help the reader identify him. The only visual art form excluded from the dictionary is the history of filmmaking. The dictionary includes approximately 500 articles on styles, schools, groups, and movements and 800 articles on forms, themes, and subject matter. Surveys of ancient and modern civilizations, countries, regions, and other broad topics provide excellent, authoritative overviews for nonspecialists or for art historians or artists who wish to update their knowledge of certain fields.
Most long articles begin with a detailed table of contents.
For example, the 137-page article Romanesque is divided into sections on architecture, sculpture, painting, mosaics, metalwork, enamels, ivories, stained glass, and textiles. Each of these sections is further subdivided, sometimes several times. In some cases, subsections are written by different authors. Discussion of specific pieces of art includes the date and references to present or last known locations. For items in private collections, citations to published reproductions, catalogues raisonnes, sales catalogs, or print catalog numbers are given.