Source shortlist

Start with museums that expose rights, dimensions, and direct image URLs.

print-source review

10sources to inspect

4import first

6IIIF-backed or IIIF-like

CC0preferred rights filter

Accept only clear rights

Import records only when public-domain, CC0, or equivalent reuse is explicit on the object, manifest, or image asset.

Measure before importing

Read pixel dimensions from image metadata or IIIF info.json and store the museum object page for audit.

Do not host first

Prefer direct IIIF/image URLs or a thin proxy. Keep original URLs stable enough to inspect and revalidate.

Manual checks

URLs to paste into the browser first

AIC

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/search?query[term][is_public_domain]=true&fields=id,title,artist_display,image_id,artwork_type_title

CMAhttps://openaccess-api.clevelandart.org/api/artworks/?type=Painting&cc0=1&has_image=1&limit=10Gettyhttps://data.getty.edu/museum/collection/docs/NGAhttps://github.com/NationalGalleryOfArt/opendataThe Methttps://collectionapi.metmuseum.org/public/collection/v1/search?hasImages=true&isPublicDomain=true&q=paintingRijksmuseumhttps://data.rijksmuseum.nl/search/collection?type=painting

#1 / Chicago, US

Art Institute of Chicago

import first

Best developer experience: public API, public-domain filter, image IDs, IIIF image service, and IIIF manifests.

Rights: Use records marked public domain / CC0. Their docs recommend filtering by public-domain status before image use.
Images: IIIF URLs are stable and hotlinkable; use image_id with the IIIF base from the API response.

Notable works to inspect

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte - 1884, Georges Seurat
The Bedroom, Vincent van Gogh
Paris Street; Rainy Day, Gustave Caillebotte

Before import

Confirm max IIIF size from info.json, not just the common 843/1686px derivatives.
Filter to artwork_type_title=Painting and is_public_domain=true.
Keep source page URL and manifest URL for attribution/debugging.

#2 / Cleveland, US

Cleveland Museum of Art

import first

Very practical for prints: the Open Access API exposes web, print, and full image assets where available.

Rights: Open Access records and image assets are made available under CC0 for commercial and noncommercial use.
Images: API image objects include high-quality derivatives, including print/full assets and dimensions when available.

Notable works to inspect

Twilight in the Wilderness, Frederic Edwin Church
The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, J. M. W. Turner
View of Schroon Mountain, Essex County, New York, After a Storm, Thomas Cole

Before import

Prefer image.full.url or image.print.url over web thumbnails.
Require share_license_status=CC0 and type=Painting.
Keep unframed dimensions when available; CMA often has good physical measurements.

#3 / Los Angeles, US

J. Paul Getty Museum

import first

Strong high-resolution source with CC0 Open Content and IIIF links in the Getty data API.

Rights: Getty Open Content images marked CC0 may be used without restrictions or fees.
Images: Getty data links to IIIF manifests and services; verify manifest rights before importing.

Notable works to inspect

Irises, Vincent van Gogh
Spring, Lawrence Alma-Tadema
The Rue Mosnier with Flags, Edouard Manet

Before import

Only accept CC0/Open Content images, not every Getty-linked image.
Pull pixel dimensions from the IIIF service or manifest body.
Filter object classification to painting before importing.

#4 / Washington, DC, US

National Gallery of Art

import first

High-quality open access images, strong collection, and bulk open data. Better for batch import than live API use.

Rights: Open access images are available free of charge for commercial and noncommercial use.
Images: Use NGA Open Data plus published image rows / IIIF URLs where available.

Notable works to inspect

Ginevra de' Benci, Leonardo da Vinci
The Japanese Footbridge, Claude Monet
Watson and the Shark, John Singleton Copley

Before import

Join object metadata to published image data before filtering.
Require openaccess=1 and primary image view.
Check IIIF info.json for true pixel dimensions.

#5 / New York, US

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

strong next

Huge CC0 collection and simple no-key API. Image quality varies, but the volume is valuable.

Rights: Public-domain artwork images and core metadata are available under CC0 through Open Access.
Images: API returns primaryImage and primaryImageSmall JPEG URLs for public-domain objects.

Notable works to inspect

Washington Crossing the Delaware, Emanuel Leutze
Madame X, John Singer Sargent
Wheat Field with Cypresses, Vincent van Gogh

Before import

Many image URLs are good but not IIIF; inspect actual pixel dimensions.
Filter isPublicDomain=true, hasImages=true, and object classification/medium for paintings.
Keep the objectURL as the museum reference page.

#6 / Amsterdam, NL

Rijksmuseum

strong next

Excellent public-domain paintings and high-quality IIIF through current no-key Data Services.

Rights: Filter Linked Art / visual item rights to CC0 before importing for prints.
Images: Search API returns collection identifiers; resolve object data and use the IIIF image service.

Notable works to inspect

The Night Watch, Rembrandt van Rijn
The Milkmaid, Johannes Vermeer
Self-portrait, Vincent van Gogh

Before import

Use the new Data Services endpoints, not legacy API-key endpoints.
Resolve each result to find the actual image access point.
Verify rights on the object and visual item, then read IIIF info.json.

#7 / New Haven, US

Yale Center for British Art

strong next

Deep British-art source with public-domain IIIF material; useful, but quality control is important.

Rights: Open access material may be used without further application, authorization, or fees.
Images: Collection sharing includes IIIF-compliant images and machine-readable collection data.

Notable works to inspect

Pumpkin with a Stable-lad, George Stubbs
Mrs. Abington as Miss Prue, Joshua Reynolds
The Bard, Thomas Jones

Before import

Keep a visual quality filter; some scans look grayscale or include taped edges.
Prefer full-color paintings and exclude conservation/reference shots.
Use IIIF dimensions and object physical dimensions when present.

#8 / Copenhagen, DK

SMK - National Gallery of Denmark

strong next

Good API and public-domain filters, with a useful European painting collection.

Rights: Many collection works are explicitly marked Public Domain and can be downloaded freely.
Images: API exposes image and IIIF fields; filter to public_domain=true and object names for paintings.

Notable works to inspect

View through Three Arches of the Colosseum, C. W. Eckersberg
Hip, Hip, Hurrah!, P. S. Kroyer
The Wounded Philoctetes, Nicolai Abildgaard

Before import

Filter public_domain=true and has image data.
Confirm IIIF max dimensions before print eligibility.
Normalize Danish object type labels to painting.

#9 / Washington, DC, US

Smithsonian Open Access

manual review

Massive CC0 source across many units. Good for scale, but not painting-focused by default.

Rights: Open Access assets are released as CC0, but filter carefully to true open-access media.
Images: Use Open Access API / metadata dumps; API key registration is expected through api.data.gov.

Notable works to inspect

Achelous and Hercules, Thomas Hart Benton
Among the Sierra Nevada, California, Albert Bierstadt
The Eclipse, Alma Thomas

Before import

Restrict to art museums and painting-like object types first.
Check whether each asset has enough pixels for print.
Normalize mixed media fields across Smithsonian units.

#10 / Minneapolis, US

Minneapolis Institute of Art

manual review

Good public-domain policy and collection metadata; likely useful after the larger IIIF/API sources.

Rights: Public-domain works are identified as free of known copyright restrictions, including commercial reuse.
Images: Metadata is available on GitHub; image policy and direct high-resolution access need manual inspection.

Notable works to inspect

Lucretia, Rembrandt van Rijn
Olive Trees, Vincent van Gogh
The Birthday Party, John Singer Sargent

Before import

Find a stable high-resolution image URL pattern before importing.
Require Public Domain rights statements.
Confirm CORS/hotlink behavior and image dimensions.