With grant wood, benton was especially active in the middle of the 20th century, creating a uniquely american style of art that tried to personify midwest simplicity while subtly critiquing some of the more absurd aspects of the national tradition. Dedication of charles banks wilsons sculpture of thomas hart benton at kansas city art institute 61689. See more ideas about artist, thomas hart benton paintings and art thomas. In order for the learnfrommasters project to continue its activity, your kind support is required. Books by thomas hart benton author of an artist in america. In the midst of world war ii, the support of civilians was crucial to the success of the american army.
The official facebook page for the thomas hart benton home and studio state historic site. Thomas hart benton, born april 15, 1889, neosho, mo. Bentons mythic scene also touched on the most compelling events of the late 1940s. Benton was born in 1889 in neosho, missouri, the oldest of four children. Thomas hart benton, born march 14, 1782, near hillsborough, north carolina, u. Thomas hart bentons most popular book is an artist in america. Thomas was the son of jesse benton and nancy gooch. Thomas hart bentons paintings were energetic and uncompromising.
Thomas hart benton was a painter and muralist considered to be one of the foremost figures of the american scene painting movement of the 1930s. He was born in neosho, missouri, to colonel maecenas eason benton and elizabeth wise benton. Thomas hart benton smithsonian american art museum. Truman presidential library independence missouri usa 27946047578. May 31, 2015 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. Thomas hart benton artwork for sale surovek gallery. Thomas hart benton and hollywood explored, for the first time, how bentons early involvement with moviemaking affected his art and career. Thomas hart benton at the milwaukee art museum is the first major exhibit to delve into the artists complicated lovehate relationship with the art of moviemaking. Thomas hart benton home and studio state historic site. Watch thomas hart benton now on your favorite device. Thomas hart benton biography childhood, life achievements. 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 on april 15, 1889 in neosho, missouri, usa.
See more ideas about american art, art and art thomas. Jan 18, 2016 a curious contradiction sits at the center of the nelsonatkins museum of arts recent exhibit, american epics. Though benton gained fame as an artist in cities such as new york, chicago. For the year 1953 they chose this image originally created in 1944 which shows the residents of a rural community filing into church, evoking. Thomas hart benton is perhaps the best known muralist associated with the american scene painting movement of the 1930s. He eventually became one of americas most famous artists of the 20th century. Mar 08, 2015 the film combines rare archival material, commentary by those close to the artist, and a stunning selection of bentons superb paintings and murals to create a moving profile of the 20thcentury. The official facebook page for the thomas hart benton home and studio state historic site in kansas city, mo. 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. Thomas hart benton, an american painter, was a major figure in the regionalist art movement. As a painter he preferred a naturalistic and representational style and liked to paint people as. Apr 11, 2020 thomas hart benton, one of the foremost painters and muralists associated with the american regionalists of the 1930s.
But beneath the denim and swagger, there lurks something else. Thomas hart benton depicted a selfreliant america emerging from the depression. Today his works are in museums, but benton hung them in saloons for ordinary people to appreciate. His father was a lawyer and politician serving four terms as. Thomas hart benton was one of americas most popular and heavily patronized modern artists during the decades leading up to world war ii, and his murals were especially acclaimed. 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. Thomas hart benton was a selfreliant america emerging from the depression. Ken burns tells the bittersweet story of an extraordinary american artist who became emblematic of the price all. Thomas hart benton biography thomas hart benton on artnet.
The son of a member of congress, benton worked as a cartoonist for the joplin missouri american in 1906 and then studied at the art institute of chicago. His burly, energetic and uncompromising paintings are celebrated in this. See available prints and multiples, works on paper, and paintings for sale and learn about the. Thomas hart benton has 141 books on goodreads with 976 ratings. The story behind thomas hart bentons incredible masterwork. Fear not hulu just reupped their streaming offerings with great new shows and movies. Thomas hart benton american, born april 15, 1889died january 19, 1975 was a notable muralist in the regionalist movement. Thomas hart benton saw the legend as a parable of his beloved midwest. Januar 1975 in kansas city, missouri war ein usamerikanischer maler. 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. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices.
He died on january 19, 1975 in kansas city, missouri. 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. Later, while in the military, benton was assigned to illustrate army equipment. The fluid, sculpted figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the united states. The main component of this piece is the three big men, each getting smaller in the distant. January february march april may june july august september october november december and january february march april may june july august september october november december retrieve. Thomas hart benton is an extremely valuable book for the student of american culture, as adams does an excellent job of going beyond the analysis of the murals, illustrations, and easel paintings, with regard to style and subjects, by integrating the art with the travels, writings, and political setting in which the artist was born and matured. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. His burly, energetic and uncompromising paintings are.
Thomas hart benton was an american artist whose paintings, lithographs, and murals contributed to the regionalist movement. A native of the american midwest, benton made paintings and drawings depicting the realities of agrarian life and the pressures of. The life of thomas hart benton by meigs, william montgomery, 18521929. Thomas hart benton, a leading artist of the time, created this propaganda poster to promote the purchase of war bonds, by linking themes of war to americas heartland. His largescale works functioned as commentaries on societal injustices. Throughout the exhibit, kansas city native thomas hart benton s works invite viewers to reconsider elements of the american narrative from a different point of view. A curious contradiction sits at the center of the nelsonatkins museum of arts recent exhibit, american epics.
Truman loathed thomas hart benton for an unflattering portrait of tom pendergast, trumans mentor, but ultimately wound up. During his life, benton preferred to hang them in saloons, where ordinary people could appreciate them in congenial settings. His work is strongly associated with the midwestern united states, the. Along with john steuart curry and grant wood, benton captured rural american life during the 1920s and 1930s. The turbulent career of thomas hart benton, one of americas most controversial artists, began with experimentation in expressionism, cubism, and other european styles abroad. Edition 250 as published by associated american artis. His father was a lawyer and politician serving four terms as a u.
His most popular works included his paintings of the scenes of the american south and the american west. The film combines rare archival material, commentary by those close to the artist, and a stunning selection of bentons superb paintings and murals to create a. An american original thomas hart benton 18891975 was an artist whose images express his deepest feelings about american. This film explores various aspects of bentons career and life. Joan stahl american artists in photographic portraits from the. 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. Watch thomas hart benton full movie in hd visit thomas hart benton s paintings were energetic and uncompromising. Thomas hart benton is a 1988 documentary film about painter thomas hart benton by ken burns. Achelous and hercules smithsonian american art museum. Born in neosho, missouri, in 1889, thomas hart benton began his art education at age sixteen in the art institute of chicago and at age nineteen studied in the latin quarter of paris. It is one of a series of eight paintings in which benton portrayed the barbarity of fascism. Each man is throwing skulls to a barren land, which is ironic because there are electrical wires in the background, either meaning that. An american scene painter who, along with john steuart curry and grant wood, was a leading regionalist painter of the 1930s.
A conversation with the missouriborn artist famous for his paintings showing ordinary people doing common things. 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. His fluid, sculpted figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the united states. Thomas hart benton christmas card for sale at 1stdibs. Thomas hart benton home and studio missouri state historic site. Thomas hart benton s paintings were energetic and uncompromising. Mar 14, 2017 thomas hart benton 18891970s thomas hart benton, painter and a leader of the regionalist movement in american art during the 1930s, was born in neosho, mo on april 15, 1889. He is known for his work on the united states steel hour 1953, night descends on treasure island 1940 and they drew fire 2000.
Ken burns tells the bittersweet story of an extraordinary american artist who. Thomas hart benton, selfportrait, 1972, lithograph in black ink on wove paper, national gallery of art, washington, gift. The title of this piece is, the sowers by thomas hart benton, 1942. The army corps of engineers had begun efforts to control the missouri river, and benton imagined a future when the waterway was tamed, and the earth swelled with robust harvests. Thomas hart benton printmaker, painter, and muralist is considered one of americas most famous artists. With henry adams, thomas hart benton, arthur danto, burl ives. 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, a film by ken burns, is an entertaining art history film because benton was highly outspoken with an oversized personality and opinions that captured the attention of his times and still is an integral component of understanding his art. In his image, the farmer transforms into the fighting soldier on the front lines. 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. Thomas hart benton 18891975 the music lesson 1943, fath 60 lithograph, signed in pencil lower right.
Thomas hart benton 18891975 chronicled the beauty, joys and sorrows of everyday life in america, until the day he died. An american original thomas hart benton 18891975 was an artist whose images express his deepest feelings about american life and history, about love family and religion. Each year, thomas hart benton and his wife ann would create a personal and seasonal illustrated greeting for their friends and family, which would be sent off in lieu of a traditional christmas card. Along with grant wood and john steuart curry, benton gained artistic fame as a regionalist painter, depicting the people and culture of the american midwest, in. Widely remembered for his images representing the midwest, benton attended the art institute of chicago in 1907, after briefly working as a. Thomas hart benton april 15, 1889 january 19, 1975 was an american painter and muralist. Thomas hart benton 18891975 born in neosho, missouri, in 1889, thomas hart benton began his art education at age sixteen in the art institute of chicago and at age nineteen studied in the latin quarter of paris. Though benton gained fame as an artist in cities such as new york. Thomas hart benton 1989 full movie download full hd youtube. Returning to america to become a child controversy, benton enjoyed one of the most dramatic and interesting careers in american art. For more than seventy years he painted its cities and small towns, its farms and backwoods.
Publication date 1904 topics benton, thomas hart, 17821858 publisher philadelphia. Ken burns tells the bittersweet story of an extraordinary american artist who became emblematic of. Make offer thomas hart benton vintage color print in faux bamboo frame sugarcane 6. Along with grant wood and john steuart curry, he was at the forefront of the regionalist art movement. A fierce defender of the aesthetics of realism, benton took on the art establishment and railed against. Apr 26, 2012 thomas hart benton is perhaps the best known muralist associated with the american scene painting movement of the 1930s. Thomas hart benton is a 60 minute1988 film from the ken burns america series by pbs. The college of wooster art museum collection credit. Thomas hart benton home and studio state historic site the victorian stone house was the famous artists home from 1939 until his death in 1975. Thomas hart benton was a senator and representative from missouri, born near hillsborough north carolina.
The thomas hart benton group is a volunteer organization with members in the greater kansas city area and northwestern missouri. Thomas hart benton 17821858 wikitree free family tree. The film combines rare archival material, commentary by those close to the artist, and a stunning selection of bentons superb paintings and murals to create a moving profile of the 20thcentury. The eponymous book on thomas hart beneton is an excellent and indeed exhaustive introduction to the famous regionalist artist. For an online reproduction of the cover, see time magazine cover. He attended the university of north carolina briefly in 1798.
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