Further information

Images will be searchable by Producers (i.e. artists, engravers and printsellers, with links to directories providing succinct information about the producers involved), People (including 'sitters' in portraits, as well as others who may be depicted in or otherwise associated with the print), Subject, Place, and Date. In addition, there will be an advanced search option which will enable users to combine search terms, or to link different types of search.

Subject searches will be based on the purpose-built thesaurus which aims to make accessible all subjects appearing within images. These are hierarchically organised under a series of categories which encapsulate the world and man’s place in it. The headings are as follows:

• Agriculture, industry and commerce
• Society
• Buildings
• Learning and the arts
• Nature
• Human being
• Military and war
• Events
• Politics
• Religion and belief
• Bible
• Mythology
• Ideas and concepts

Within these, users can follow the subject tree and locate subcategories as appropriate. For example: Society – Family – Marriage – Royal weddings. Alternatively, an alphabetical index of all subject entries will be available; there will also be a facility to enter a subject keyword.

If you have any comments, or if you would like to volunteer to help test the search mechanism, please contact Katherine Hunt or Stephen Pigney.