diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index cfbf6b7ad..9448d234c 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -703,11 +703,13 @@ class Library(BaseLibrary):
     def __init__(self, path='library.blb',
                        directory='~/Music',
                        path_format='$artist/$album/$track $title',
+                       art_filename='cover',
                        item_fields=ITEM_FIELDS,
                        album_fields=ALBUM_FIELDS):
         self.path = path
         self.directory = directory
         self.path_format = path_format
+        self.art_filename = art_filename
         
         self.conn = sqlite3.connect(self.path)
         self.conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
@@ -786,8 +788,8 @@ class Library(BaseLibrary):
         libpath = self.directory
         subpath_tmpl = Template(self.path_format)
         
-        # build the mapping for substitution in the path template, beginning
-        # with the values from the database
+        # Build the mapping for substitution in the path template,
+        # beginning with the values from the database.
         mapping = {}
         for key in ITEM_KEYS_META:
             value = getattr(item, key)
@@ -814,6 +816,15 @@ class Library(BaseLibrary):
         
         return _normpath(os.path.join(libpath, subpath))   
 
+    def art_path(self, item, image):
+        """Returns a path to the destination for the album art image
+        for the item's album. `image` is the path of the image that
+        will be moved there (used for its extension).
+        """
+        item_dir = os.path.dirname(self.destination(item))
+        _, ext = os.path.splitext(image)
+        dest = os.path.join(item_dir, self.art_filename + ext)
+        return dest
     
     # Main interface.
 
diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index e504d187f..0f53595d4 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ CONFIG_FILE = os.path.expanduser('~/.beetsconfig')
 DEFAULT_LIBRARY = '~/.beetsmusic.blb'
 DEFAULT_DIRECTORY = '~/Music'
 DEFAULT_PATH_FORMAT = '$artist/$album/$track $title'
+DEFAULT_ART_FILENAME = 'cover'
 
 
 # UI exception. Commands should throw this in order to display
@@ -369,9 +370,12 @@ def main():
         config_val(config, 'beets', 'directory', DEFAULT_DIRECTORY)
     path_format = options.path_format or \
         config_val(config, 'beets', 'path_format', DEFAULT_PATH_FORMAT)
+    art_filename = \
+        config_val(config, 'beets', 'art_filename', DEFAULT_ART_FILENAME)
     lib = library.Library(os.path.expanduser(libpath),
                           directory,
-                          path_format)
+                          path_format,
+                          art_filename)
     
     # Invoke the subcommand.
     try:
diff --git a/test/rsrc/test.blb b/test/rsrc/test.blb
index bdbf362bc..1559b449b 100644
Binary files a/test/rsrc/test.blb and b/test/rsrc/test.blb differ
diff --git a/test/test_db.py b/test/test_db.py
index 3cd386827..d353ba425 100644
--- a/test/test_db.py
+++ b/test/test_db.py
@@ -247,6 +247,21 @@ class DestinationTest(unittest.TestCase):
         p = beets.library._sanitize_path(u':', 'Darwin')
         self.assertEqual(p, u'-')
 
+class ArtDestinationTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.lib = beets.library.Library(':memory:')
+        self.i = item()
+        self.lib.art_filename = 'artimage'
+        
+    def test_art_filename_respects_setting(self):
+        art = self.lib.art_path(self.i, 'something.jpg')
+        self.assert_('/artimage.jpg' in art)
+        
+    def test_art_path_in_item_dir(self):
+        art = self.lib.art_path(self.i, 'something.jpg')
+        track = self.lib.destination(self.i)
+        self.assertEqual(os.path.dirname(art), os.path.dirname(track))
+
 class MigrationTest(unittest.TestCase):
     """Tests the ability to change the database schema between
     versions.
@@ -399,4 +414,3 @@ def suite():
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main(defaultTest='suite')
-