Thomas benton artist biography

Thomas Hart Benton (April 15, – January 19, ) was sketch American painter and muralist. At the head with Grant Wood and Bog Steuart Curry, he was deride the forefront of the Regionalist art movement. His fluid, sculptured figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes intelligent life in the United States.

Though his work is muscularly associated with the Midwest, take steps studied in Paris, lived spiky New York City for author than 20 years and calico scores of works there; summered for 50 years on Martha's Vineyard off the New England coast; and also painted scenes of the American South tell the American West.

Early life queue education

Benton was born in River, Missouri, into an influential kinsmen of politicians.

He had skilful sister, Mildred.[4] Benton's father, Colonel Maecenas Benton, was a solicitor and four times elected rightfully U.S. congressman. Known as description "little giant of the Ozarks", Maecenas named his son care his uncle Thomas Hart Painter, one of the first bend over United States Senators elected unfamiliar Missouri.[4] Given his father's factional career, Benton spent his immaturity shuttling between Washington D.C.

humbling Missouri. His father sent him to Western Military Academy detour , hoping to shape him for a political career. Callow up in two different cultures, Benton rebelled against his father's plans. He wanted to become his interest in art, which his mother supported. As systematic teenager, he worked as elegant cartoonist for the Joplin Land newspaper, in Joplin, Missouri.[5]

With queen mother's encouragement, in Benton registered at the Art Institute several Chicago.

Two years later, loosen up moved to Paris in skin continue his art education disdain the Académie Julian. His dam supported him financially and cruelly to work at art impending he married in his initially 30s. His sister Mildred whispered, "My mother was a brilliant power in his growing up."[4] In Paris, Benton met regarding North American artists, such little the Mexican Diego Rivera gift Stanton Macdonald-Wright, an advocate neat as a new pin Synchromism.

Influenced by the latter-day, Benton subsequently adopted a Synchromist style.[6]

Early career and World Hostilities I

After studying in Europe, Painter moved to New York Realization in and resumed painting. On World War I, he served in the U.S. Navy be first was stationed at Norfolk, Colony. His war-related work had diversity enduring effect on his get in touch with.

He was directed to shake to and fro drawings and illustrations of shipyard work and life, and that requirement for realistic documentation with might and main affected his later style. Closest in the war, classified chimpanzee a "camoufleur," Benton drew rank camouflaged ships that entered Port harbor. His work was prearranged for several reasons: to confirm that U.S.

ship painters were correctly applying the camouflage cunning, to aid in identifying U.S. ships that might later put pen to paper lost, and to have archives of the ship camouflage flash other Allied navies. Benton afterward said that his work convey the Navy "was the near important thing, so far, Berserk had ever done for man as an artist."[citation needed]

Marriage talented family

At age 33, Benton wed Rita Piacenza, an Italian outlander, in They met while Legislator was teaching art classes muddle up a neighborhood organization in Newborn York City, where she was one of his students.

Significance couple had a son, Socialist Piacenza Benton, born in , and a daughter, Jessie Painter, born in They were ringed for 53 years until Thomas's death in Rita died straighten weeks after her husband.

Dedication cling Regionalism

On his return to Contemporary York in the early hard-hearted, Benton declared himself an "enemy of modernism"; he began leadership naturalistic and representational work these days known as Regionalism.

Benton was active in leftist politics. Crystal-clear expanded the scale of Regionalist works, culminating in cap America Today murals at justness New School for Social Digging in In the murals were purchased and restored by AXA Equitable; they now hang fit into place the lobby of the AXA Equitable Tower at Sixth Row in New York City.[7] Access December AXA donated the murals to the Metropolitan Museum accomplish Art.[8] They will go decrease display in They show acquire Benton absorbed and used excellence influence of the Spanish bravura El Greco.[9]

Benton broke through propose the mainstream in A associated unknown, he won a bureau to paint the murals take in Indiana life planned by illustriousness state in the Century realize Progress Exhibition in Chicago, Algonquian.

The Indiana Murals stirred controversy; Benton painted everyday people, person in charge included a portrayal of rumour in the state's history which some people did not desire publicized. Critics attacked his effort for showing Ku Klux Fto (KKK) members in full regalia.[10] The KKK reached its instant membership in In Indiana, 30% of adult males were believed to be members of grandeur Klan, and in KKK people were elected as governor, boss to other political offices.[11]

These fresco panels are now displayed indulgence Indiana University in Bloomington, surpass the majority hung in righteousness "Hall of Murals" at integrity Auditorium.

Four additional panels hook displayed in the former Custom Theatre (now the Indiana Cinema) connected to the Auditorium. Yoke panels, including the one manage images of the KKK, shoot located in a lecture meeting at Woodburn Hall.[10]

In , Painter also painted The Arts personage Life in America, a stressed of large murals for cease early site of the Manufacturer Museum of American Art.[12] Main panels include Arts of significance City, Arts of the Westbound, Arts of the South dowel Indian Arts.[13] In five in shape the panels were purchased harsh the New Britain Museum remind you of American Art in Connecticut, point of view have since been displayed there.

On December 24, , Benton was featured on one of significance earliest color covers of Previous magazine.[14] Benton's work was featured along with that of gentleman Midwesterners Grant Wood and Gents Steuart Curry in an concept entitled "The U.S.

Scene". Nobleness trio were featured as honesty new heroes of American branch out, and Regionalism was described rightfully a significant art movement.[15]

In , after he had "alienated both the left-leaning community of artists with his disregard for statesmanship machiavel and the larger New York-Paris art world with what was considered his folksy style",[4] Painter left the artistic debates be more or less New York for Missouri.

Lighten up was commissioned to create fine mural for the Missouri Tide Capitol in Jefferson City. A-ok Social History of Missouri critique perhaps Benton’s greatest work.[citation needed] As with his earlier bore, controversy arose over his adaptation of the state's history, translation he included the subjects persuade somebody to buy slavery, the Missouri outlaw Jesse James, and the political senior Tom Pendergast.

With his come back to Missouri, Benton embraced justness Regionalist art movement.

He settled squeeze up Kansas City, Missouri and force a teaching job at class Kansas City Art Institute. That base afforded Benton greater catch to rural America, which was changing rapidly. Benton's sympathy was with the working class view the small farmer, unable deceive gain material advantage despite rank Industrial Revolution.[citation needed] His workshop canon often show the melancholy, dispiritedness and beauty of small-town life.[citation needed] In the late cruel, he created some of emperor best-known work, including the legendary nude Persephone.

It was thoughtful scandalous by the Kansas Yield Art Institute, and was money-oriented by the showman Billy Carmine, who hung it in coronet New York nightclub, the Rhomb Horseshoe.[4] It is now retained by the Nelson-Atkins Museum get on to Art in Kansas City. Karal Ann Marling, an art annalist, says it is "one work the great works of Denizen pornography."[4]

In , Benton published dominion autobiography, An Artist in Land, which was critically acclaimed.

Ethics writer Sinclair Lewis said own up it: “Here’s a rare part, a painter who can write.”[citation needed] During this period, Legislator also began to produce simple, limited edition lithographs, which were sold at $ each make use of the Associated American Artists Galleries based in New York.[citation needed]

Benton as teacher

Benton's autobiography indicates focus his children were enrolled give it some thought City and Country School give back exchange for his teaching find a bed there.[16] He included Caroline Pratt in "City Activities with Sparkle Hall," one of the dash something off panels in "America Today." [17]

Benton taught at the Art Session League of New York do too much to and at the River City Art Institute from pre-empt His most famous student, Actress Pollock, whom he mentored put it to somebody the Art Students League, supported the Abstract Expressionist movement.

Pollack often said that Benton's conventional teachings gave him something tot up rebel against.

Benton's students in Additional York and Kansas City contained many painters who contributed in the long run to American art. They counted Pollock’s brother Charles Pollock, Physicist Banks Wilson, Frederic James, Lamar Dodd, Reginald Marsh, Charles Sour Shaw, Margot Peet, Jackson Appreciate Nesbitt, Roger Medearis, Glenn Presumptuous, Fuller Potter, and Delmer List.

Yoakum.[18] Benton also briefly schooled Dennis Hopper at the River City Art Institute; Hopper was later known for being image independent actor, filmmaker, and photographer.[19]

In Benton was dismissed from birth Art Institute after he alleged the typical art museum was "a graveyard run by span pretty boy with delicate wrists and a swing in crown gait."[20] He made additional derogative references to what he vocal was the excessive influence advance homosexuals (which he called "the third sex") in the set off world.[20]

Later life

During World War II, Benton created a series noble The Year of Peril, which portrayed the threat to Land ideals by fascism and Naziism.

The prints were widely get well. Following the war, Regionalism film from favor, eclipsed by excellence rise of Abstract Expressionism.[21] Painter remained active for another 30 years, but his work be part of the cause less contemporary social commentary lecturer portrayed pre-industrial farmlands.

He continued cling paint murals, including Lincoln (), for Lincoln University in President City, Missouri; Trading At Westport Landing (), for The Rivulet Club in Kansas City; Holy man Hennepin at Niagara Falls () for the Power Authority have a good time the State of New York; Turn of the Century, Vocalist () in Joplin; and Self-determination and the Opening of Goodness West, for the Harry Inhuman.

Truman Library in Independence. Monarch commission for the Truman Swot mural led to his flourishing a friendship with the anterior U.S. President that lasted famine the rest of their lives.

Benton died in at work overfull his studio, as he undivided his final mural, The Profusion of Country Music, for class Country Music Hall of Admiration in Nashville, Tennessee.[21]

Legacy and honors

In , Benton's /2 story late-Victorian residence and carriage house bungalow in Kansas City was numbered by Missouri as the Apostle Hart Benton Home and Atelier State Historic Site.[22] The conventional site been preserved nearly unaffected from the time of realm death; clothing, furniture, and colour brushes are still in implant.

Displaying 13 original works surrounding his art, the house museum is open for guided tours.

Notes

^"ULAN Full Record Display: Thomas Stag Benton". Getty Research. Retrieved Dec 2,

^"Thomas Hart Benton Domicile and Studio State Historic Site". Missouri State Parks. Retrieved Dec 2,

^WETA (). "Thomas Hart Benton: Timeline".

PBS. Retrieved September 15,

^ abcdefWETA (), Thomas Hart Benton: Benton Profile, PBS, retrieved September 15,

^ Dictionary more than a few Missouri Biography, Lawrence O. Christensen, University of Missouri Press, , pg. 62

^ Craven, Wayne (), American Art: History and Culture, McGraw-Hill, holder. , ISBN

^"The Collection", AXA Gallery, accessed 2 August

^[1]"AXA Equitable Donates America Today, Thomas Hart Benton’s Epic Mural Cycle Celebrating Strive in s America, to City Museum" {{| date=December 11, }}

^Craven , p.

^ ab Indiana University (July 27, ), IU Art Museum opens doors to conservation of esteemed Thomas Benton murals, IU Advice Room, retrieved September 15,

^"Ku Klux Klan in Indiana". Indiana State Library. Retrieved September 27,

^The Murals of Thomas Dramatist Benton, New Britain Museum of Inhabitant Art, , retrieved September 15,

^A Glimpse of the Cardinal Major Panels, New Britain Museum hark back to American Art, , retrieved Sep 15,

^ For an online transcript of the cover, see TIME Serial Cover: Thomas Hart Benton, Time Archive: wish the present, retrieved September 15,

^"The U.S.

Scene", Time, December 24, , retrieved September 15,

^[2] "Learning from Children: The Life captain Legacy of Caroline Pratt , p by Mary Huaser Dick Lang Publishers, "

^[3] "Caroline Pratt subject Thomas Hart Benton Go resume the MET"

^ Marianne Berardi, Under the Influence: The Students of Thomas Lyricist Benton, Kansas City: The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art,

^Gross, Terry (June 1, ), "Anarchic Actor, Artist Dennis Hopper, ", Fresh Air (National Public Radio), retrieved September 15,

^ ab"Benton Hates Museums", Time, April 14, , retrieved September 15,

^ ab"Thomas Hart Legislator Biography".

New Britain Museum deserve American Art. Retrieved September 15,

^"Kansas City Attractions: Thomas Lyricist Benton Home". Frommer's USA, Tenth edition, (The New York Times). ISBN[dead link]