His work is strongly associated with the midwestern united states, the region in which he was born and which he called home for most of his life. Auctioning a beloved thomas hart benton collection arts. A curious contradiction sits at the center of the nelsonatkins museum of arts recent exhibit, american epics. Today his works are in museums, but benton hung them in saloons for ordinary people to appreciate. Thomas hart benton, senator and representative from missouri, was born near hillsborough, the third child and eldest son of jesse and ann gooch benton. Lobby daypolitical action training march 3 free food. Throughout the exhibit, kansas city native thomas hart bentons works invite viewers to reconsider elements of the american narrative from a different point of view. Ken burns traces the pioneering artists turbulent career in. Thomas hart benton, planting, 1934, lithograph, 14. Nelsonatkins celebrates thomas hart bentons contribution to. Thomas hart benton planting spring plowing at 1stdibs. For the development of a complete rhythm extending through large masses of. Thomas hart bentons heirs accuse umb bank of mismanaging. Geselbracht enlarge thomas hart benton was concerned with historic accuracy in his murals.
In addition, the exhibition presents rarely seen archival photographs and related ephemera, as well as film clips and. One of the central artists associated with the american regionalism movement, thomas hart benton strayed from the modernist trend toward abstraction in favor of a more representational, though stylized, approach. Thomas hart benton was born in neosho, missouri, in. As in most of bentons paintings, forms are stylized, theatrical and artificial, as if the entire worldsand, flesh. Dec 19, 2019 the sources of country music, benton s last painting.
How does the audience watching the movie change in the final version. Thomas hart benton and hollywood explored, for the first time, how bentons early involvement with moviemaking affected his art and career. One of 16 tempuraon canvas murals from thomas hart bentons. Surely the highlight was the collection of benton printsthe most complete in private hands. Thomas hart benton was born in neosho, missouri in 1889 into a family of prominent politicians committed to political republicanism and populism. Along with grant wood and john steuart curry, he was at the forefront of the regionalist art movement.
Look below for a sampling of the public artwork that inhabits joplin. Thomas hart benton poker night from a streetcar named desire 1948. Thomas hart benton paintings, bio, ideas theartstory. A retrospective exhibition of the works of the noted missouri artist presented under the patronage of the honorable harry s. Perhaps binghams greatest direct influence was on another missouri artist, thomas hart benton. Thomas hart benton meets the movies the kansas city star. As a student, he was unruly and alienated many of his peers and teachers. Independence and the opening of the west national archives. He was elected to the national academy of design, has illustrated many books, wrote and twice appended his autobiography and is the subject of thomas hart benton, a documentary by ken burns.
All ken burns documentaries ranked from best to worst imdb. Shown here is bentons painting of the kentuckianthe films star. Thomas hart benton was born in neosho, missouri, and named for a great uncle and ear. Portrait of a musician museum of art and archaeology.
Ken burns traces the pioneering artists turbulent career in this bittersweet portrait, highlighting the fierce controversy over his work. The model for portrait of a musician was a jazz bassist who played in a kansas city nightclub that benton often went to in the 1940s. The sources of country music, bentons last painting. Included is a brand new docomeentary created by the band themselves with exclusive behindthescenes footage from their personal archives, two complete live shows. Truman, thomas hart benton, and the making of the mural spring 2009, vol. Thomas hart benton was a selfreliant america emerging from the depression. The congress film is intersting to a point, but tries to cover too broad a subjecttoo many years, too many personalitiesto really do any of them justice. Dec 02, 2015 from bingham to benton and back again throughout our documentary, the american artist. Although most of these represented farming activities, he was also attracted to spectacular mountain vistas like the one depicted in trail riders. Thomas hart benton established his reputation in the 1930s with five mural projects that changed the face of american art and provided the principle artistic models for the work projects administration wpa mural program.
Apr 02, 2014 here is the abstract of the paper i will be presenting in the visual arts and the bible section at the society of biblical literature annual conference in san diego this november on thomas hart benton s lithograph, prodigal son he also did a painting of this image. Bentons work can be found at the met, the smithsonian, the truman library and many other museums and galleries across the u. Thomas hart benton was born in neosho, missouri, and named for a great uncle and early united states senator. His father was a congressman, and his greatuncle, for whom he was named, was an important us senator. Benton crammed his works with what the abstractionists would take out. Thomas hart benton american, born april 15, 1889died january 19, 1975 was a notable muralist in the regionalist movement. The heirs of famed kansas city artist thomas hart benton are suing umb bank, claiming it mismanaged his estate, failed to track and maximize the value of his artwork, lost track of more than 100 irreplaceable pieces of art and impermissibly used his art to promote the bank. Thomas hart benton artwork for sale at online auction. Susanna and the elders thomas hart benton famsf search. Thomas hart benton, one of the nations premier muralists, was born in neosho, missouri, on april 15, 1889, and was named for his famous greatuncle, who became a political legend during three decades of service as that states first u.
Public art is an essential and revealing component of a communitys personality and culture. Jackson pollock january 28, 1912 august 11, 1956 was an american painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Dec 05, 2015 the first major exhibition on thomas hart benton in more than 25 years, american epics.
Benton later recalled that, politics was the core of our family life. Well known for his murals and portraits depicting everyday life, particularly in the midwest, benton authored two autobiographies, an artist in america 1937 and an american in art 1969. Thomas hart benton smithsonian american art museum. Thomas hart benton artwork for sale surovek gallery. And yet compete is precisely what american artist thomas hart benton set out to do with artworks such as the film screensized hollywood, a. Thomas hart benton was born on april 15, 1889 in neosho, missouri, usa. Henry adams, thomas hart benton, arthur danto, burl ives. Thomas hart benton was an american artist whose paintings, lithographs, and murals contributed to the regionalist movement. On the strength of these projects, benton quickly became one of the most famous and controversial artists in america. He is known for his work on the united states steel hour 1953, night descends on treasure island 1940 and they drew fire 2000. An american scene painter who, along with john steuart curry and grant wood, was a leading regionalist painter of the 1930s. Wolff convincingly demonstrates that benton was a gifted artist who played a central role as american art moved into the modern era. Mar 06, 2015 an eradefining 1930s mural of american excess and industry is revived. Our expertise includes impressionism, american western, regionalism.
The heirs of famed kansas city artist thomas hart benton are suing umb bank, claiming it mismanaged his estate, failed to track and maximize. Located in the heart of the city of ladue, kodner gallery has specialized in fine american and european art of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Thomas hart benton and hollywood, it is the first major show devoted to benton in 25 years. Photo, print, drawing one of 16 tempuraon canvas murals from thomas hart bentons mural a social history of the state of indiana that benton painted for the 1933 chicago worlds fair. How do i cite an image from a slide presentation on the web. Jul 01, 2015 the bump and the hollow of thomas hart benton.
From bingham to benton and back again george caleb bingham. Thomas hart benton paintings for sale heritage auctions. Thomas hart benton and hollywood is a retrospective on the painter and muralists brief stint among the glittery excess of the early 1900s film industry. Thomas hart benton is a 60 minute1988 film from the ken burns america series by pbs. List of artists already posted on learnfrommasters. The bump and the hollow of thomas hart benton the new yorker. A native of the american midwest, benton made paintings and drawings depicting the realities of agrarian life and the pressures of industrialization. Indicate the slide and its number, either in the optionalelement slot at the end of the entry or in a parenthetical citation in your text. Thomas hart benton film this dvd covers the bands 10 year rise from an indie sensation to a major hardrock powerhouse with fans throughout the world. He also studied in paris, lived in new york city for more than 20 years and painted sc. The fluid, sculpted figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the united states. Other memorable works are america today, indiana murals, and persephone. Thomas hart bentons prints illustrate american life in the west and south.
Thomas hart benton and hollywood reveals the fascinating but overlooked relationship between bentons art, movie making and visual storytelling in 20thcentury america. They give a comprehensive portrait of life in the 1930s. The works on view range from studiessome for the murals hes most closely identified withto completed works, and represent the breadth of bentons career, from the 1920s to the 1970s. A fierce defender of the aesthetics of realism, benton took on the art establishment and railed against. Thomas hart benton march 14, 1782 april 10, 1858, nicknamed old bullion, was a united states senator from missouri. Thomas hart benton biography thomas hart benton on artnet. Books by thomas hart benton author of an artist in america. Benton studied for years in paris and new york city during the 1920s when he would become one of the founding members of the regionalist art movement. There is much intelligent discussion of major works such as the mural cycles and individual pictures, and full.
Nov 02, 2015 right now the nelsonatkins is host to some pure movie magic. Today his works are in museums, but benton hung them in saloons for ordinary people to. Truman of independence, missouri, april 12 to may 18, 1958 by. Thomas hart benton was known for his paintings that glorified the.
Aug 03, 2012 a conversation with the missouriborn artist famous for his paintings showing ordinary people doing common things. Oct 11, 2014 thomas hart bentons murals, america today, have an immediate impact of color, exuberance, and resonant ideas. This is the book on one of americas great regionalist painter thomas hart benton by an excellent scholar who has specialized in his work for many years. Urban and rural, old ways and new, labor and entertainment, freedom and oppression, rich, poor, and all the way through the middle. Benton, thomas hart 18891975 an important american regionalist artist who produced nearly 100 lithographs. Thomas hart bentons heirs accuse umb bank of mismanaging the renowned kansas city artists works thomas hart benton was a regionalist painter, depicting the people and culture of the american midwest. Thomas hart benton was already 14 in 1903, when the great train robbery flickered onto screens, but he was still impressionable enough to become part of the first generation of american. During his life, benton preferred to hang them in saloons, where ordinary people could appreciate them in congenial settings.
Avery, owner and curator of alan avery art company in atlanta, georgia presents notes on american regionalist artist thomas hart benton and the importance of his work within americas history. But beneath the denim and swagger, there lurks something else. Thomas hart bentons daughter and younger child, now a darkeyed and energetic woman of. Brooklyn bridge is vintage ken burns and the statue of liberty film is ok. Thomas hart bentons america today mural the metropolitan. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The story behind thomas hart bentons incredible masterwork. Going west 193435 going west exemplifies many aspects of pollocks early interests. Achelous and hercules smithsonian american art museum. See more ideas about artist, art thomas and thomas hart benton paintings. While the thomas hart benton home and studio state historic site is located in kansas city, bentons work including departure of the joads is on display at the college of the ozarks, located just outside of branson, in the schools ralph foster museum. At age 17, after the family had returned to missouri, he took. Glencairnamong them ringleader irishman driscoll, querrelous cockney cocky, quiet swede olson, troubled brit smitty, and brash american yankform the sometimes cruel and other times tender rough brotherhood at the center of eugene oneills quartet of oneact plays written during the years of the great war. Thomas hart benton, selfportrait, 1972, lithograph in black ink on wove paper, national gallery of art, washington, gift of jerome w.
Thomas hart benton, achelous and hercules, 1947, tempera and oil on canvas mounted on plywood, smithsonian american art museum, gift of allied stores corporation, and museum purchase through the smithsonian institution collections acquisition program, 1985. He died on january 19, 1975 in kansas city, missouri. His work is strongly associated with the midwestern united states, the. Indiana university bloomington iu bloomington, iu, or simply indiana is a public research university in bloomington, indiana. Here he sketches angie perry, after whom the cheyenne woman is modeled on the mural s western side. The painting was inspired by a 1964 trip that benton took with his good friend the kansas city attorney. Thomas hart bentons hollywood, is the centerpiece of the exhibit at the nelsonatkins museum of art that the kansas city artist created after visiting the movie capital on a commission. Paramour fine arts list of works for thomas hart benton.
Thomas hart benton artwork paintings and lithographs. The turbulent career of thomas hart benton, one of americas most controversial artists, began with experimentation in expressionism, cubism, and other european styles abroad. Get inspired to expand your world and build your community. A member of the democratic party, he was an architect and champion of westward expansion by the united states, a cause that became known as manifest destiny. Benton served in the senate from 1821 to 1851, becoming the first member of that. Thomas hart bentons biography is interesting, but not really to my taste. Late in his career thomas hart benton concentrated on landscapes, many of which were inspired by sketching trips to rural areas.
Most would think the bloch building is the exact opposite of bentons aesthetic. Missouri native thomas hart benton 18891975 painted america today to. During his lifetime, pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. Widely remembered for his images representing the midwest, benton attended the art institute of chicago in 1907, after briefly working as a. Art and life in thomas hart bentons america today, with.
Thomas hart benton and hollywood includes approximately one hundred works by this quintessential american artist. Benton also became renowned for his mural cycles such as america today 19301931, the metropolitan museum of art that also evoke the immersive environment of the movie theater. Born in 1889 in neosho, missouri, thomas hart benton chose to. Thomas hart benton thomas hart benton paintings, thomas. In addition to his work as a painter, benton was a distinguished writer whose.
Thomas hart benton 18891975 was an artist whose images express his deepest feelings about american life and history, about love family and religion. Join your friends and neighbors and connect with missourians fighting to protect our health and communities at sierra club thomas hart benton groups first membership meeting of 2020. Bentons a chronology of my life in thomas hart benton, catalogue of a retrospective exhibition held at the university of kansas museum of art, lawrence, kansas april 12 to may 18, 1958, unpaginated, includes the following entry at the end of a section dealing with the period 192024. His fluid, sculpted figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the united states. Thomas hart benton and hollywood, recently on view at the peabody essex museum now travelling across the country through fall 2016, was a stunning, denselymounted and sharply focused show that brought to light the cosmopolitan side of a painter imbued with the wanderlust and social concerns of a harddrinking woody guthrie. Nov 07, 2011 auctioning a beloved thomas hart benton collection. During the 1930s, he was strongly influenced by the american regionalism of his mentor thomas hart benton, yet going west is characterized by a dark, almost mystical quality similar to another american visionary painter pollock admired, albert pinkham ryder. Artist thomas hart bentons the sources of country music is one of his most recognized murals.
Thomas hart benton april 15, 1889 january 19, 1975 was an american painter and muralist. Born in the rural town of neosho, mo, benton achieved fame in large cities such as paris and new york. Joan stahl american artists in photographic portraits from the. It is the flagship institution of the indiana university system and, with over 40,000 students, its largest university. One of americas bestknown, leastunderstood painters was thomas hart benton.
I hear you like this, he told thomas hart benton, holding up a bottle of bourbon. Benton attended the art institute of chicago and studied in paris. The painting was inspired by a 1964 trip that benton took with his. Metropolitan museum of art mural thomas hart benton works. He was interested in representing african american culture in missouri and he particularly enjoyed drawing and painting jazz players and folk musicians.
Thomas hart benton artist, fine art prices, auction. Jul 28, 2015 editorial assistant rachel high speaks to randall griffey, associate curator of the exhibition thomas hart benton s america today mural rediscovered and coauthor of the accompanying bulletin, about benton s mural and the connections between his art and life. He was well known for his unique style of drip painting. Missouri native thomas hart benton painted america today to adorn a. Benton, was a congressman for eight years, and during the winter, the family lived in washington d. Thomas hart bentons daughter and younger child, now a darkeyed and energetic woman of 75, is the embodiment of her parents. See available prints and multiples, works on paper, and paintings for sale and learn about the. Central to an understanding of ford, hart, disney, ingram.
Benton was a highly intelligent, energetic, flamboyant, pugnacious and hard drinking fellow, who quite often found himself in the center of controversy. Thomas hart bentons acclaim came from his development of the regionalist painting style, which rejected the aristocracy of the predominating art culture to show the common man. Mar 02, 2018 cite an image from a slide presentation on the web the same way you would cite an image on a web page. Thomas hart bentons heirs accuse umb bank of mismanaging the. In fact, during his later years benton often spoke to art classes at college of the. An eradefining 1930s mural of american excess and industry. The intertwined lives of thomas hart benton and jackson pollock at. Thomas hart bentons paintings were energetic and uncompromising. Thomas hart benton was born in neosho, missouri, and as a small boy absorbed the life of the western frontier. Thomas hart benton 18891975 benton fits the familiar mold of jack london, john steinbeck, ernest hemingwaythe roughneck artist, the temperamental genius disguised as a joe. Thomas hart benton is a 1988 documentary film about painter thomas hart benton by ken burns. Thomas hart benton was an american painter and muralist.
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