How to Read a Caption A caption gives basic information about a
work of art. Titles appear in boldface. Titles are usually
followed by a date or date range. The name and nationality of
the artist/maker(s) of the work of art are given, if known.
Country or Culture of Origin The country or culture of origin
indicates the geographic area where the work of art was made or
found and may be followed by a specific city or region. Medium
and Dimensions The medium describes the material(s) that the
work of art is made of. Dimensions of the work of art are given
in inches and centimeters. The credit line indicates how a work
came into the permanent collection or how it came to be on view
at the Metropolitan Museum. "Bequest," "gift," "purchase," and
"loan" are some of the terms used to indicate sources. The
assigned credit line remains with the work of art throughout its
life at the Museum. The year of accession is given at the end of
the credit line. The Metropolitan Museum of Art assigns a unique
accession number to