Determine which citation style you need. Each academic discipline or set of disciplines uses a different format. For a fine arts or art history paper, you will probably need to use the Chicago Manual of Style. If this is a paper for another humanities discipline such as English, you may need to use Modern Language Association (MLA) style guide. For Psychology, you would use the American Psychological Association (APA) format. If you are not sure which citation style you should use, it is always a good idea to check with your professor.
Note important information about the painting. This includes the artist's full name, the name of the painting, the date the painting was created, the institution that currently houses it and its location. For Chicago Style, you also need the painting's medium and measurements.
Note where you found the painting. If you are referencing the painting as you viewed it in a museum, the above information will suffice. If it is in a book, you need to cite it as being published in the book. Note the author(s) or editor(s) of the book, publisher, place and date of publication and the page on which the painting appears. If the painting appears on a website, you will need the URL, publisher and the date accessed.
Use a citation manual or reference book to cite the painting both in text and in your bibliography. Your college composition textbook or a handbook, such as Diana Hacker's "A Writer's Reference," are both good choices. Citation tips for paintings will most likely be listed under the heading "Other Common Sources." It may also be listed under the sub-heading "citing an image."
Follow the guidelines meticulously, as punctuation, capitalization and order all matter for correct citations. Make sure you include all of the necessary information.