Commons:WikiProject sum of all paintings/Improving metadata to link to Wikidata

This page describes steps for improving metadata to link to Wikidata. When metadata on a file is improved it makes it easier to find the item on Wikidata to link to.

Currently we have about 3.5 million artworks without Wikidata item of which 165.000 have been identified as paintings without Wikidata item of which 10.000 have been identified of being from a completely indexed collections. These numbers are massive so going through these files one by one is not really feasible. Doing small edits to a large number of files does make it easier to link these files up and will make them show up at tools like User:Multichill/Same image without Wikidata.

It's recommended to do these steps either per collection or per painter. Doing it on large sets might be a bit overwhelming.

Adding artwork template

An image of a painting should either have {{Artwork}} or {{Art Photo}}. Both are based on Module:Artwork which will show all the information about a painting if a file is linked to Wikidata. An empty template with a Wikidata link in structured data is enough (example file).

Rule of thumb is to use {{Artwork}} and to only use {{Art Photo}} when the surroundings of the painting are included. Opinions on this might differ. You can replace the existing {{Information}} with the template using a shortcut:

• {{Artwork}}: replace {{Information with {{subst:Artwork/subst|subst=subst:
• {{Art Photo}}: replace {{Information with {{subst:Art Photo/subst(information)|subst=subst:

You can also edit more metadata in the same edit (more below).

Changing the template will make the file show up in Category:Artworks without Wikidata item.

https://petscan.wmflabs.org/?psid=18498553 will give a list of files that are in (a subcategory of) Category:Paintings in the Royal Collection of the United Kingdom, but don't have {{Artwork}} or {{Art Photo}}. The template should be changed.

Object type painting

If a file is a photo of a painting, this should be added to the template. For that we have the "object type" field. If you set it to |object type = painting the file will show up in Category:Paintings without Wikidata item.

https://petscan.wmflabs.org/?psid=18498604 will give a list of files that are in (a subcategory of) Category:Paintings in the Royal Collection of the United Kingdom and in Category:Artworks without Wikidata item, but not in Category:Artworks with Wikidata item or Category:Paintings without Wikidata item. The object type should be added.

Add the institution

Institution templates (like Institution:Rijksmuseum Amsterdam) are the standard way of indicating in what collection a work of art is. It should be added in the institution field: |institution = {{Institution:Rijksmuseum Amsterdam}}. If the painting is in a collection that is completely indexed on Wikidata, it will show up in Category:Paintings from completely indexed collections which is used in User:Multichill/Same image without Wikidata.

https://petscan.wmflabs.org/?psid=18498627 will give a list of files that are in (a subcategory of) Category:Paintings in the Royal Collection of the United Kingdom and in Category:Artworks without Wikidata item, but don't have {{Institution}}. The missing institution template should be added.

Add the painter

Creator templates (like Creator:Vincent van Gogh) are the standard way of indicating who made a work of art. It should be added in the artist (not author) field: |artist = {{Creator:Vincent van Gogh}}. If the painting is by a painter who is completely indexed on Wikidata, it will show up in Category:Paintings by completely indexed painters which is used in User:Multichill/Same image without Wikidata.

https://petscan.wmflabs.org/?psid=18498636 will give a list of files that are in (a subcategory of) Category:Paintings by Vincent van Gogh and in Category:Artworks without Wikidata item, but don't have {{Creator}}. The missing creator template should be added.

Inventory number

Adding missing inventory number or normalizing an inventory number so that it's the same as on Wikidata will greatly increase the chance of a file being linked. This can be complex and a lot of work.