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Events

Introduction

The Event API is a method of getting access to descriptions of periods of time, events or activities that are not directly associated with other entities, nor are provenance activities or exhibitions, but are still noteworthy occurences somehow related to artwork. Examples might include a fire that burnt down a museum, thereby causing the destruction of many works of art, a project that researched aspects of works of art, or a named period during which objects were created. Although these are different classes, they are so similar in this usage that they are grouped together into a single endpoint from the perspective of the API. The Event API is of average complexity with many familiar properties and patterns of other endpoints, plus the event and activity properties familiar from embedded events.

Property Definitions

Dereferencing an entity via the Event endpoint would result in a JSON-LD document containing a single JSON object with the following properties.

Properties of Events

Property Name Datatype Requirement Description
@context string, array Required The value MUST be the URI of the Linked Art context as a string, "https://linked.art/ns/v1/linked-art.json" or an array in which the URI is the last entry to allow for extensions
id string Required The value MUST be the HTTP(S) URI at which the event's representation can be dereferenced
type string Required The class for the event, which MUST be the value "Period", "Event" or "Activity"
_label string Recommended A human readable label for the event, intended for developers
classified_as array Recommended An array of json objects, each of which is a classification of the event and MUST follow the requirements for Type
identified_by array Recommended An array of json objects, each of which is a name/title of the event and MUST follow the requirements for Name, or an identifier for the event and MUST follow the requirements for Identifier
referred_to_by array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a human readable statement about the event and MUST follow the requirements for Statement
equivalent array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to an external identity and description of the current event
representation array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a Visual Work that represents the current event, and MUST follow the requirements for a reference
member_of array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a Set that the current event is a member of and MUST follow the requirements for a reference to a Set
subject_of array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a Textual Work, the content of which focuses on the current event, and MUST follow the requirements for a reference
attributed_by array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a Relationship Assignment that relates the current event to another entity
part_of array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to another Event that the current event is directly a part of.
timespan json object Recommended A json object recording when the event occured, which MUST follow the requirements for timespans
during array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a broad Period during which this event occured
before array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a Period, Event or Activity before which this event occured
after array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a Period, Event or Activity after which this event occured
took_place_at array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a Place where the event occured
caused_by array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to another Event that caused this event to occur. Only usable when the type is "Event" or "Activity"
influenced_by array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to an entity that influenced the event in some noticable fashion. Only usable when the type is "Activity"
carried_out_by array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a Person or Group that carried out the activity. Only usable when the type is "Activity"
participant array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference to a Person or Group that participated in the event but did not carry it out. Only usable when the type is "Event" or "Activity"`
used_specific_object array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a reference] to an entity that was instrumental in the carrying out of the activity. Only usable when the type is "Activity"
technique array Optional An array of json objects, each of which is a technique used in the activity and MUST follow the requirements for Type. Only usable when the type is "Activity"

Property Diagram

diagram

JSON Schema

See the schema documentation and the schema itself

Incoming Properties

Event instances are typically found as the object of the following properties, other than the self-referential properties above. This list is not exhaustive, but is intended to cover the likely cases where other endpoints refer to events.

Property Name Source Endpoint Description
part_of All Any other event or activity in any of the end points can be part_of a broader period, event or activity. This implies that the spatial and temporal constraints of the broader event apply also to the referencing event.

Example

The JSON for an Event describing an auction in 1820 could be as below.

  • It has the Linked Art context document reference in @context
  • It self-documents its URI in id
  • It has a type of "Activity" (as it is carried out by some Group, thus it is not an Event or Period)
  • It has a _label with the value "Foster Auction of March 1820" for people reading the JSON
  • It is classified_as an "Auction Event", which has an id of "aat:300054751"
  • It is identified_by ...
    • ... a Name, with the content "Edward Foster Auction of March 1820"
    • ... and an Identifier, with the content "Br1908", which is classified_as an Owner-Assigned number ("aat:300404621")
  • It is referred_to_by a statement which ...
    • ... has content of "Besides paintings, this sale ..."
    • ... is classified_as a Description ("aat:300435416")
  • It has a timespan which ...
    • ... has a display title, with the content "1820 Mar 09"
    • ... has a begin_of_the_begin with the value "1820-03-09T00:00:00Z" (the earliest possible time on March 9th)
    • ... has an end_of_the_end with the value "1820-03-09T23:59:59Z" (the latest possible time on March 9th)
  • It took_place_at London
  • It was carried_out_by the Group "Edward Foster & Son"
  • It used_specific_object of a Set, encompassing all of the auction lots
  • It is equivalent to another description of the same event at example.auction
  • It is the subject_of the text of a Sales Catalog
{
  "@context": "https://linked.art/ns/v1/linked-art.json",
  "id": "https://linked.art/example/event/0",
  "type": "Activity",
  "_label": "Foster Auction of March 1820",
  "classified_as": [
    {
      "id": "http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300054751",
      "type": "Type",
      "_label": "Auction Event"
    }
  ],
  "identified_by": [
    {
      "type": "Name",
      "content": "Edward Foster Auction of March 1820"
    },
    {
      "type": "Identifier",
      "classified_as": [
        {
          "id": "http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300404621",
          "type": "Type",
          "_label": "Owner-Assigned Number"
        }
      ],
      "content": "Br1908"
    }
  ],
  "referred_to_by": [
    {
      "type": "LinguisticObject",
      "classified_as": [
        {
          "id": "http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300435416",
          "type": "Type",
          "_label": "Description",
          "classified_as": [
            {
              "id": "http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300418049",
              "type": "Type",
              "_label": "Brief Text"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "content": "Besides paintings, this sale included a few lots with musical instruments and watches. The owners were a number of dealers who regularly consigned their wares to this auctioneer, despite the fact that the title page names \"A Gentleman\" as the owner."
    }
  ],
  "timespan": {
    "type": "TimeSpan",
    "identified_by": [
      {
        "type": "Name",
        "classified_as": [
          {
            "id": "http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300404669",
            "type": "Type",
            "_label": "Display Title"
          }
        ],
        "content": "1820 Mar 09"
      }
    ],
    "begin_of_the_begin": "1820-03-09T00:00:00Z",
    "end_of_the_end": "1820-03-09T23:59:59Z"
  },
  "took_place_at": [
    {
      "id": "http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7011781",
      "type": "Place",
      "_label": "London"
    }
  ],
  "carried_out_by": [
    {
      "id": "http://vocab.getty.edu/ulan/500451765",
      "type": "Group",
      "_label": "Edward Foster & Son"
    }
  ],
  "used_specific_object": [
    {
      "id": "http://example.org/sets/Br1908",
      "type": "Set",
      "_label": "All Auction Lots of Br1908"
    }
  ],
  "equivalent": [
    {
      "id": "http://example.auction/past/foster/1820/03/1",
      "type": "Activity"
    }
  ],
  "subject_of": [
    {
      "id": "http://example.org/catalog/Br1908",
      "type": "LinguisticObject",
      "_label": "Sales Catalog of Br-1908"
    }
  ]
}

graph TD classDef object stroke:black,fill:#E1BA9C,rx:20px,ry:20px; classDef actor stroke:black,fill:#FFBDCA,rx:20px,ry:20px; classDef type stroke:red,fill:#FAB565,rx:20px,ry:20px; classDef name stroke:orange,fill:#FEF3BA,rx:20px,ry:20px; classDef dims stroke:black,fill:#c6c6c6,rx:20px,ry:20px; classDef infoobj stroke:#907010,fill:#fffa40,rx:20px,ry:20px classDef timespan stroke:blue,fill:#ddfffe,rx:20px,ry:20px classDef place stroke:#3a7a3a,fill:#aff090,rx:20px,ry:20px classDef event stroke:#1010FF,fill:#96e0f6,rx:20px,ry:20px classDef literal stroke:black,fill:#f0f0e0; classDef classstyle stroke:black,fill:white; O1(event/0) class O1 event; O1-- type -->O1_0[Activity] class O1_0 classstyle; O1-- _label -->O1_4("''Foster Auction of March 1820''") class O1_4 literal; O2(aat:300054751) class O2 type; O2-- type -->O2_0[Type] class O2_0 classstyle; O2-- _label -->O2_3("''Auction Event''") class O2_3 literal; O1-- classified_as -->O2 O3( _ ) class O3 name; O3-- type -->O3_0[Name] class O3_0 classstyle; O3-- content -->O3_2("''Edward Foster Auction of March 1820''") class O3_2 literal; O1-- identified_by -->O3 O4( _ ) class O4 name; O4-- type -->O4_0[Identifier] class O4_0 classstyle; O5(aat:300404621) class O5 type; O5-- type -->O5_0[Type] class O5_0 classstyle; O5-- _label -->O5_3("''Owner-Assigned Number''") class O5_3 literal; O4-- classified_as -->O5 O4-- content -->O4_3("''Br1908''") class O4_3 literal; O1-- identified_by -->O4 O6( _ ) class O6 infoobj; O6-- type -->O6_0[LinguisticObject] class O6_0 classstyle; O7(aat:300435416) class O7 type; O7-- type -->O7_0[Type] class O7_0 classstyle; O7-- _label -->O7_3("''Description''") class O7_3 literal; O8(aat:300418049) class O8 type; O8-- type -->O8_0[Type] class O8_0 classstyle; O8-- _label -->O8_3("''Brief Text''") class O8_3 literal; O7-- classified_as -->O8 O6-- classified_as -->O7 O6-- content -->O6_3("''Besides paintings, this sale included a few lots with musical instruments and watches. The owners were a number of dealers who regularly consigned their wares to this auctioneer, despite the fact that the title page names "A Gentleman" as the owner.''") class O6_3 literal; O1-- referred_to_by -->O6 O9( _ ) class O9 timespan; O9-- type -->O9_0[TimeSpan] class O9_0 classstyle; O10( _ ) class O10 name; O10-- type -->O10_0[Name] class O10_0 classstyle; O11(aat:300404669) class O11 type; O11-- type -->O11_0[Type] class O11_0 classstyle; O11-- _label -->O11_3("''Display Title''") class O11_3 literal; O10-- classified_as -->O11 O10-- content -->O10_3("''1820 Mar 09''") class O10_3 literal; O9-- identified_by -->O10 O9-- begin_of_the_begin -->O9_3("''1820-03-09T00:00:00Z''") class O9_3 literal; O9-- end_of_the_end -->O9_4("''1820-03-09T23:59:59Z''") class O9_4 literal; O1-- timespan -->O9 O12(tgn:7011781) class O12 place; O12-- type -->O12_0[Place] class O12_0 classstyle; O12-- _label -->O12_3("''London''") class O12_3 literal; O1-- took_place_at -->O12 O13(ulan:500451765) class O13 actor; O13-- type -->O13_0[Group] class O13_0 classstyle; O13-- _label -->O13_3("''Edward Foster & Son''") class O13_3 literal; O1-- carried_out_by -->O13 O14(http://example.org/sets/Br1908) class O14 infoobj; O14-- type -->O14_0[Set] class O14_0 classstyle; O14-- _label -->O14_3("''All Auction Lots of Br1908''") class O14_3 literal; O1-- used_specific_object -->O14 O15(http://example.auction/past/foster/1820/03/1) class O15 event; O15-- type -->O15_0[Activity] class O15_0 classstyle; O1-- equivalent -->O15 O16(http://example.org/catalog/Br1908) class O16 infoobj; O16-- type -->O16_0[LinguisticObject] class O16_0 classstyle; O16-- _label -->O16_3("''Sales Catalog of Br-1908''") class O16_3 literal; O1-- subject_of -->O16
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