Template:Cite object/doc

This template is used to cite sources in Wikipedia. It is designed specifically for 2D and 3D works that may be cited in standalone web pages and articles, such as museum reference documents.

A particular work may have a Wikidata or Commons entry with further technical information that need not be repeated in the citation. Conceivably this template can be used for anything from audio-visual media (see also {{Cite AV media}}) to entire architectural megastructures, if indeed such a work can and should be cited. Note that any use of this template in an article will almost be in citing a primary source, which has relevant guidelines.

Usage

This template supports most of the parameters available to {{cite book}}. For information about those parameters see that template's documentation.

All parameter names must be in lowercase.

cite object-specific parameters

• |dimensions= – This is appended following a semicolon (;) to any existing |type= or |medium= definition, all enclosed within the same parentheses. It is data-agnostic and carries no metadata as of 2022, but consider using {{val}} or {{convert}}.
• |_debug= – a useful aid when trying to understand why a {{cite object}} template is not working; see §examples

cite object CS1 aliases

• |medium= – alias of |type=; (default alias in CS1/Cite book) use for technique, medium, and style specifications
• |inset= – alias of |chapter=; (in quotes, requires |title=)
• |inset-url= – alias of |chapter-url=;
• |description= – alias of |title=; (in italics) for untitled objects whose catalog title is descriptive
• |exhibition= – alias of |series=; (in italics) for pieces that are part of a titled artistic exhibition/installment (if the exhibition is temporary it should be specified in |orig-date=)
• |museum= – alias of |publisher=; (upright) the name of the museum or exhibition catalog from which the object is being cited (if cited from a live event, specify in |orig-date=). This parameter may also be used to specify the effective curator(s) of the object, if in a private collection or a public installation.
• |inscription= – alias of |quote=; (user must include quotation marks if desired) add written text (or A/V transcription if applicable) from object (only necessary if the text is the material being cited.) Use {{Lang}} with foreign language transcriptions, enclosing the entire template in any quotation and non-included punctuation marks (see examples).

Additional museum catalog numbers or identifiers should go in the |id= field.

{{Cite object}} currently excludes no parameters from the standard {{cite book}} template. Use existing parameters, especially those with associated metadata, with appropriate diligence.

CS1's |date= parameter has limited support for old and/or complex dates, specifically anything prior to 100 CE, "centuries", or combining uncertain dates with a range. It presumes Julian dates before 1582 and Gregorian otherwise. If an object's given date from its source does not fit these specifications, set |date=nd and use |orig-date= instead.

Excess artistic descriptive/historical detail is generally unnecessary. The primary purpose of a bibliographic citation is for a user to be able to find the object that is being cited.

template skeletons

Most commonly used fields (full list available at Cite book documentation)
{{cite object |last1= |first1= |author-link1= |last2= |first2= |author-link2= |author-mask1= |author-mask2= |others= |date= |orig-date= |inset= |inset-url= |title= |script-title= |trans-title= |title-link= |url= |url-status= |url-access= |medium= |exhibition= |location= |museum= |at= |id= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=}}
Most-most most commonly used fields (use this and you won't have to delete as much)
{{cite object |title= |last= |first= |author-link= |medium= |dimensions= |date= |museum= |location= |url= |access-date=}}

examples

examples

Example 1	{{cite object |title=Panel with Royal Woman |date=c. 795 |orig-date=Maya style, Mexico or Guatemala, Usumacinta River region, Classic Period, 250-900 |medium=limestone |dimensions={{val|60.4|x|69.8|u=cm}} |id=1962.32 |museum=Cleveland Museum of Art |url=https://clevelandart.org/art/1962.32 |access-date=2022-08-14 |inscription="... {{Lang|emy|Sahal K'utim}} ... 9.18.5.0.0 {{Lang|emy|4 Ajaw 13 Keh}} ..."}}	Panel with Royal Woman (limestone; 60.4 cm × 69.8 cm). Cleveland Museum of Art. c. 795 [Maya style, Mexico or Guatemala, Usumacinta River region, Classic Period, 250-900]. 1962.32. Retrieved 2022-08-14. ... Sahal K'utim ... 9.18.5.0.0 4 Ajaw 13 Keh ...
Example 2	{{cite object |author=Leonardo da Vinci |title=Mona Lisa |date=1503–1505 |medium=oil on poplar |dimensions=76.8 × 53 cm |id=ARK ID: 010062370 |museum=Louvre Museum |location=Paris |url=https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010062370 |access-date=2022-08-14}}	Leonardo da Vinci (1503–1505). Mona Lisa (oil on poplar; 76.8 × 53 cm). Paris: Louvre Museum. ARK ID: 010062370. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
Example 3	{{cite object |last=Akerman |first=Chantal |author-link=Chantal Akerman |inset=Tu |title=Je tu il elle, l'installation |exhibition=Chantal Akerman: From the Other Side |date=2007 |medium=video |museum=Marian Goodman Gallery |location=Paris |url=https://www.mariangoodman.com/exhibitions/chantal-akerman-from-the-other-side-paris/ |access-date=2022-08-14}}	Akerman, Chantal (2007). "Tu". Je tu il elle, l'installation (video). Chantal Akerman: From the Other Side. Paris: Marian Goodman Gallery. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
Example |_debug=yes	{{cite object |first=Robert C. |last=Christian |others=Elberton Granite Finishing Company (builders) |title=Georgia Guidestones |title-link=Georgia Guidestones |date=1980 |museum=Elbert County <!--effective curators in charge of maintenance--> |location=Georgia, United States |at=English stone, line 3 |inscription="Unite humanity with a living new language." |url=https://elbertchamber.com/guidestones |url-status=dead |_debug=yes }}	{{Cite book|_debug=yes|at=English stone, line 3|date=1980|first=Robert C.|last=Christian|location=Georgia, United States|others=Elberton Granite Finishing Company (builders)|publisher=Elbert County|quote="Unite humanity with a living new language."|title-link=Georgia Guidestones|title=Georgia Guidestones|url-status=dead|url=https://elbertchamber.com/guidestones}}

Features to add

If template becomes popular, consider support within CS1 so that |orig-date= and |type= no longer need to be overloaded.

In the Leonardo da Vinci example above, consider support for:

• |id= wikidate Q12418 (say for {{Authority Control}} as Commons uses, which requires CS1 support)
• |commons-link= File:Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg

Further reading

• Short guide to citing artwork in various citation styles

See also

This template produces COinS metadata; see COinS in Wikipedia for background information.