Smarthistory offers is a free online alternative to expensive art history textbooks. Smarthistory features more than just images of notable works of art. The combination of video lessons, text articles, and audio lessons about eras and themes in art history is what makes Smarthistory a valuable resource. Students can browse all of the resources of Smarthistory by artist name, style of work, theme, or time period. Smarthistory was originally developed by art history professors Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker.

A glossary of art history terms on Smarthistory can help students understand the key talking points in the video lessons available on Smarthistory. Those video lessons are arranged into three main sections; “first things first,” “tools for understanding art,” and “materials + techniques.” Within each section you will find six to twenty videos on subtopics.