Sources & Attribution
provenance aggregates artwork data and images from world-class museum collections that provide open access to their digital collections. This page explains where our content comes from and how we use it.
Museum APIs & Data Sources
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
We access artwork data through the Met's Open Access API, which provides information about artworks in their collection that are in the public domain or available under Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license.
- •API: Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection API
- •License: Public Domain (CC0) for Open Access artworks
- •Data: Artwork metadata, images, and collection information
- •Attribution: Each artwork includes credit line from the Met Museum
Smithsonian Institution
We access artwork data through the Smithsonian Open Access API (EDAN), which provides access to millions of digital assets from across the Smithsonian's museums, research centers, libraries, and archives.
- •API: Smithsonian Open Access API (EDAN)
- •License: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) - Public Domain
- •Data: Artwork metadata, images, and collection information from multiple Smithsonian units
- •Attribution: Each artwork includes data source and credit line
Rijksmuseum
We access artwork data through the Rijksmuseum API, which provides access to the museum's collection of Dutch art and history. The Rijksmuseum offers Open Data with Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license for public domain works.
- •API: Rijksmuseum API
- •License: Public Domain (CC0) for Open Data artworks
- •Data: Artwork metadata, images, and collection information
- •Attribution: Each artwork includes credit line from the Rijksmuseum
Cleveland Museum of Art
clevelandart.org/open-access-api
We access artwork data through the Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access API, which provides free access to high-resolution images and data for artworks in the public domain.
- •API: Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access API
- •License: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) - Public Domain
- •Data: Artwork metadata, high-resolution images, and collection information
- •Attribution: Each artwork includes credit line from the Cleveland Museum of Art
Wikimedia Commons
We access artwork images and metadata through the Wikimedia Commons API, which provides access to millions of freely usable media files, including public domain artworks and Creative Commons licensed content.
- •API: MediaWiki API
- •License: Public Domain, Creative Commons, and other open licenses
- •Data: Artwork images, metadata, and licensing information
- •Attribution: Each artwork includes source and license information from Wikimedia Commons
How We Use This Data
provenance uses museum APIs to:
- •Fetch artwork metadata (title, artist, date, medium, dimensions, etc.)
- •Download and host artwork images on our servers for faster loading
- •Cache data in our database to reduce API load and improve performance
- •Enhance metadata with AI-generated descriptions and additional context
- •Organize artwork into educational courses and lessons
All artwork data is cached locally but can be refreshed from the source APIs to get the latest information. Images are downloaded and optimized for web delivery while maintaining attribution to the original source.
Image Licensing & Usage
All artwork images displayed on provenance are used in accordance with the licensing terms provided by the source museums:
- •Public Domain (CC0): Most artworks from the Met Museum and Smithsonian are in the public domain and can be used freely for any purpose, including commercial use.
- •Attribution: While not always legally required for public domain works, we maintain attribution and credit lines to honor the museums and artists.
- •Educational Use: All content on provenance is used for educational purposes to help users learn about art history.
If you notice an artwork that may have incorrect licensing information, please contact us so we can review and correct it.
Data Accuracy & Updates
Artwork data is fetched from museum APIs and cached in our database. We periodically refresh data to ensure accuracy, but:
- •Data may not reflect the most recent updates from source museums immediately
- •Some metadata fields may be enhanced or supplemented by our curators
- •For the most authoritative information, visit the artwork's page on the source museum's website
Each artwork page includes a link to view the original on the museum's website when available.
Attribution on provenance
We attribute artwork to their source museums in several ways:
- •Credit Lines: Displayed on each artwork page, showing the museum and collection information
- •Source API: Indicated in artwork metadata (Met Museum, Smithsonian, etc.)
- •Museum Links: Direct links to view the artwork on the original museum's website
- •This Page: Comprehensive listing of all data sources and APIs used
API Rate Limits & Usage
We respect the rate limits and terms of service for all museum APIs:
- •Caching: We cache API responses to minimize requests and reduce load on museum servers
- •Rate Limiting: Our bulk import and refresh operations include delays to respect API limits
- •Terms of Service: We comply with all terms of service and usage guidelines from source museums
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions about our data sources, licensing, or attribution practices, please contact us through our support channels. We're committed to transparency and proper attribution of all content.