Published February 10, 2021. Updated August 5, 2021.

To cite an image in Chicago style, you need to know basic information including the artist’s name(s), the title of the work, the date created, the date republished (if applicable), the medium, the dimensions, the work’s physical location, and when accessed online or in print, a URL or publication details. Document the physical location for images seen in person. Document the publication details when seen online or in print. When possible, cite the original work rather than a reproduction or republication.

The templates and examples below are based on the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition and the Chicago Manual of Style website. On this page, you can learn how to cite the following:

• Online image

• In person

• In print

If you’re trying to cite an image, the Chegg Writing Chicago citation generator could help.

Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.

Citing an online image in Chicago style

Notes-Bibliography format

In-text citation template and example:

Example sentence.¹

———-

1. Author First M. Surname, Title of the Image, Date, medium, height x width x depth (unit conversion), URL.

He was asked about the state.¹

———-

1. Renato Augusto Martins, Two male rohde’s leaf frog (Pithecopus rohdei), a species of tree frog endemic to Atlantic Forest, Brazil, March 20, 2017, photograph, 4,288 x 2,848 pixels, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Picture_of_the_day#/media/File:Perereca-macaco_-_Phyllomedusa_rohdei.jpg.

When you cite a source in the first instance, provide full information in the first note. If the same source is cited in multiple instances, you can provide only short information of the source such as the surname of the artist and up to four words of the image title.

1. Martins, Two male rohde’s leaf.

Bibliography entry template and example:

Artist Surname, First Name. Title of the Image. Date. Medium, height x width x depth (unit conversion). URL.

Martins, Renato Augusto. Two male rohde’s leaf frog (Pithecopus rohdei), a species of tree frog endemic to Atlantic Forest, Brazil. March 20, 2017. Photograph, 4,288 x 2,848 pixels. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Picture_of_the_day#/media/File:Perereca-macaco_-_Phyllomedusa_rohdei.jpg.

Author-Date format

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative

Artist Surname (Year)

Martins (2017)

Parenthetical

(Artist Surname Year)

(Martins 2017)

Reference list entry template and example:

Read this Chicago style format guide for more style basics.

Citing an image seen in person in Chicago style

Notes-Bibliography format

In-text citation template and example:

Example sentence.¹

———-

1. Artist First Name Surname, Title of the Image, Date, medium, height x width x depth (unit conversion), Name of the museum or gallery, Location of the museum or gallery.

A limited number of resources are available.¹

———-

1. Michelangelo Buonarroti, Holy Family, known as the “Doni Tondo”, 1505-06, tempera grassa on wood, 120 cm (diameter), The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.

When you cite a source in the first instance, provide full information in the first note. If the same source is cited in multiple instances, you can provide only short information of the source such as the artist’s last name and the image title.

1. Buonarroti, Holy Family, known as the “Doni Tondo”.

Bibliography template and example:

Artist Surname, First Name. Title of the Image. Date. Medium, height x width x depth (unit conversion). Name of the museum or gallery, Location of the museum or gallery.

Buonarroti, Michelangelo. Holy Family, known as the “Doni Tondo”. 1505-06. Tempera grassa on wood, 120 cm (diameter). The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.

Author-Date format

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative

Artist Surname (Year)

Buonarroti (1505-06)

Parenthetical

(Artist Surname Year)

(Buonarroti 1505-06)

Reference list entry template and example:

Citing an Image in print in Chicago style

Notes-Bibliography format

In-text citation template and example:

Example sentence.¹

———-

1. Artist First Name Surname, Title of the Image, Date, medium, height x width x depth (unit conversion), Title of Print Publication, page number or locator, Print publication date.

Mounted horse riders carried mail by Pony Express.¹

———-

1. Lloyd Branson, Pony Express Rider, 1904, oil on canvas, 62 1/4 x 93 x 1 1/2 in. (158.12 x 236.22 x 3.81 cm), Smithsonian, 8, October 2020.

When you cite a source in the first instance, provide full information in the first note. If the same source is cited in multiple instances, you can provide only short information of the source such as the artist surname and up to four words of the image title.

1. 1. Branson, Pony Express Rider.

Bibliography entry template and example:

Artist Surname, First Name. Title of the Image. Date. Medium, height x width x depth (unit conversion). Title of Print Publication, page number or locator, Print publication date.

Branson, Lloyd. Pony Express Rider. 1904. Oil on canvas, 62 1/4 x 93 x 1 1/2 in. (158.12 x 236.22 x 3.81 cm). Smithsonian, 8, October 2020.

Author-Date format

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative

Artist Surname (Year)

Branson (1904)

Parenthetical

(Artist Surname Year)

(Branson 1904)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more information on citing sources in Chicago, also read these guides on Chicago style in-text citations and Chicago style bibliographies.