In article <[log in to unmask]>, Eric Siegel
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
 
The naming of artists is a difficult matter...
Not just one of your ordinary games,
For every artist (would you believe all my jabber?)
Must have three (or more) indexable names...
 
===
 
My copy of Freedberg's _Painting in Italy: 1500 -- 1600_ indexes Andrea
del Sarto as "Sarto, Andrea del,"  but Perino del Vaga appears under
"Perino."  Correggio (Antonio Allegri) appears under Correggio, etc.
 
It would seem that in published indices, the rule is to choose whatever
form is the one most likely to be used and searched for.  Never mind
convention, usage is what counts.  Hence,  Michelangelo does not appear
under Buonarrotti (sp?),  and the indexer does not even think of putting
Leonardo under da Vinci or under Vinci.  Similarly Daniele da Volterra,
appears under D.
 
In databases we have a different problem.  One never knows how some future
user will want to search under.  I've seen (somewhere) Michelangelo
indexed under Angelo, Michelle.  Enough said?
 
Robt.