A life, holland cotter elucidates the paradoxes within bentons personality and career that made him one of the most famous and controversial painters. For more than seventy years he painted its cities and small towns, its farms and backwoods. The film was shot by the calvin company of kansas city for eb films in 194647. A native of the american midwest, benton made paintings and drawings depicting the realities of agrarian life and the pressures of. The story behind thomas hart bentons incredible masterwork. See more ideas about american art, art and art thomas. 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. A leader of the regionalist movement in 20th century american art, thomas hart benton showed the same fascination for ordinary people and bucolic settings that his fellow missourian mark twain popularized in his writings the century before. And yet compete is precisely what american artist thomas hart benton set out to do with artworks such as the film screensized hollywood, a dark, cynical critique reminiscent of.
In 1947, thomas hart benton was commissioned by hollywood producer david o. The painting, flood disaster, was created to highlight the devastating flooding of the kansas and missouri rivers in july 1951 that killed 17 people and displaced more than half a million residents. Thomas hart benton, headandshoulders portrait, facing front summary democratic senator from missouri, 18211851. The work was a gift for selznicks first wife, irene, a theatrical producer responsible for bringing the play to broadway in the same year. Benton was the natural choice to illustrate three of twains books reprinted in the 1930s and 40s. 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. Download this thomas hart benton vector illustration now. He is known for his work on the united states steel hour 1953, night descends on treasure island 1940 and they drew fire 2000. Thomas hart benton march 14, 1782 april 10, 1858, nicknamed old bullion, was a united states senator from missouri.
Exhibits conflicts and operations world war ii thomas hart benton. 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. Historical and legal examination of that part of decision. And yet compete is precisely what american artist thomas hart benton set out to do with artworks such as the film screensized hollywood, a dark, cynical critique reminiscent of the tinseltown. Either way, the film left me feeling rather lukewarmthough i could see it was a quality film. Thomas hart benton jones 18401921 find a grave memorial. Thomas hart benton was born on april 15, 1889 in neosho, missouri, usa. Thomas hart benton is a 1988 documentary film about painter thomas hart benton by ken burns. Along with grant wood and john steuart curry, he was at the forefront of the regionalist art movement. It is based on a scene from the film the kentuckian, where the backwoodsman big eli wakefield played by burt lancaster and his son little eli played by donald macdonald encounter a frontier village. Thomas hart benton was born and raised in neosho, missouri. From social media ads to billboards, powerpoint presentations to feature films, youre free to modify.
Brooklyn bridge and statue of liberty recall the building of two new york monuments. As a young man, benton was left in charge of considerable land holdings. His burly, energetic and uncompromising paintings are celebrated in this bittersweet story of an extraordinary american artist who depicted a selfreliant country in the great depression availability. His burly, energetic and uncompromising paintings are celebrated in this. He returned every summer to the island, and for the first half of the 1920s. Sep 09, 20 what do eggs, the 1933 worlds fair and the history of indiana have in common. Thomas hart benton navy history and heritage command navy. His wife rita invited benton to join her, believing the country atmosphere would have a soothing effect. Thomas hart benton, wheat, 1967, oil on wood, smithsonian american art museum, gift of mr.
And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree vector art that features adult graphics available for quick and easy download. 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 united states artist whose paintings portrayed life in the midwest and south benton 2. The thomas hart benton mural in the missouri state capitol, by nancy edelman, is a study of a social history of the state of missouri. If you are interested in thomas hart benton and his art, this film is an absolute must. Well done but it never really sparked much excitement in me. Thirty years view, or, a history of the working of the american government for thirty years from 1820 to 1850 microform. The bump and the hollow of thomas hart benton the new yorker. This film explores various aspects of bentons career and life. 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. Thomas hart benton, born march 14, 1782, in hillsboro, north carolina, was one of the most colorful statesmen of the 19th century.
Jun 27, 2011 a timely and poignant painting of the wreckage caused by massive flooding in 1951 recently came up for auction at sothebys. Thomas hart benton painter, muralist, and writer from missourideveloped, along with artists grant wood and john steuart curry, a style of painting in the 1920s that became known as regionalism. Thomas hart benton was an american artist whose paintings, lithographs, and murals contributed to the regionalist movement. Thomas hart benton is a 1988 documentary film about painter thomas hart benton by ken. Thomas hart benton was an influential artist and missouri native. The indiana murals of thomas hart benton 2001 youtube. Earl bennent talks about the beauty in benton s work. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. If nothing else, says burns, thomas hart benton is a hell. 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 home steve sitton provided a tour of thomas hart benton s home, including his art studio, where he died in 1975.
Painting and film both had to overcome the limitation of flatness. 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. Thomas hart bentons daughter and younger child, now a dark. 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. Tom bentons missouri home university of missouri extension. Susanna and the elders thomas hart benton famsf search.
Jul 01, 2015 the bump and the hollow of thomas hart benton. But beneath the denim and swagger, there lurks something else. Thomas hart bentons muralsized painting hollywood 193738 was intended, the. Apr 11, 2020 thomas hart benton, one of the foremost painters and muralists associated with the american regionalists of the 1930s. This film collection from ken burns offers an anthem to the nation and its people. Eight years later, tom bentons missouri, a halfhour 16mm film, premiered, starring benton himself as narrator of his most ambitious mural. The original benton school was built in 1903 and named for thomas hart benton, missouris first senator and uncle of another famous thomas hart benton, the painter. Capitol murals, including those by thomas hart benton. Thomas hart benton catalogue raisonne foundation inc. Thomas hart benton, headandshoulders portrait, facing. He eventually became one of americas most famous artists of the 20th century. An outspoken art personality of his time, artist thomas hart benton 18891975 was also a premier american teacher, critic, painter, muralist, printmaker, illustrator, and writer.
Benton served in the senate from 1821 to 1851, becoming the first member of that body to serve five terms. The original eight room, 11,000 square foot school was built on land purchased from isaac and natalie rogers at the corner of hocker and kansas. Site administrator steve sitton provides a tour of thomas hart benton s home, including his art studio, where he died in 1975. That evening, over a couple of milkshakes, we came up with the idea to make a documentary about the mural that would feature bobs music. And film studios, inspired by bentons influential characterizations, commissioned him to create promotional prints, posters and paintings for such. In clear language, edelman provides historical background and interpretation of scenes in the mural and benton s own insights into them. Artist thomas hart benton and politician huey long emerge in compelling biographies, while the shakers is a. As for benton himself, burnss film points out that he was a sophisticate who pretended to be simple. 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.
Read the irs instructions for 990 forms if this organization has filed an amended return, it may not be reflected in the data below. They are all a part of the story of the famous artwork known as, the indiana murals of thomas hart benton. As the son of a popular missouri congressman, benton traveled extensively with his father on the campaign trail. Thomas hart benton, headandshoulders portrait, facing front. In the house lounge on the third floor of the missouri capitol, neoshoborn artist thomas hart benton gives visitors a largerthanlife look at the states history.
His pieces often challenge social ills while elevating the work of the everyman and the american landscape. Historical and legal examination of that part of decision of the supreme court of the united states in the dred scott case by thomas hart benton. The kentuckian, thomas hart benton united states, missouri, 18891975, united states, 1954, paintings, oil on canvas, in 1953 the motionpicture company norma productions hired benton to execute a painting to be used for publicity purposes for the movie. The kentuckian is a 1954 painting by the american artist thomas hart benton.
This piece captures the romantic image of a horse running against a backdrop of rolling hills. Yet robert hughes, venerable art critic for time magazine, cited benton as a dreadful artist most of the time. Ive read every book ever written by, or about th benton and this film brought to life the personality of one of americas most important artists. This film explores various aspects of benton s career and life. The film follows richter through mesmeric cycles of painting, viewing, and judging. View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stdibs benton, thomas hart. For further information on henry adams consult his website at. Thomas hart benton the race homeward bound drawings. Thomas hart benton was already 14 in 1903, when the great train robbery flickered onto screens, but he was still impressionable enough to. 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 synonyms, thomas hart benton pronunciation, thomas hart benton translation, english dictionary definition of thomas hart benton. The irs form 990 is an annual information return that most organizations claiming federal taxexempt status must file yearly.
Thomas hart benton from the ozarks and beyond youtube. Benton is an english surname, which means town in the bent grass or is from the place where the bear grass grows. Oct 22, 2015 thomas hart bentons artistic reputation has had more than its share of peaks and valleys. Benton was influenced early in his career by a sketching trip he took through northwest arkansas in 1926. He died on january 19, 1975 in kansas city, missouri. Benton s work can be found at the met, the smithsonian, the truman library and many other museums and galleries across the u. Perhaps it is the documentary, perhaps its my reaction to the art of thomas hart benton. Thomas hart benton stock illustration download image now istock. In 1906 young benton went to work as a surveyors assistant in. The original eight room, 11,000 square foot school was built on land purchased from isaac and. Duplicated download links may be due to resubmissions or amendments to an organizations original return.
The edit script of tom bentons missouri describes the film s. Edition of 250 published by associated american artists a. Thomas hart benton conceived the sources of country music, as an actionfilled stage upon which the history of an important genre of american music comes to life. For 98yearold artist, every mural must be a new adventure eric bransby, who studied under thomas hart benton, is one of the last living links to. Thomas hart benton april 15, 1889 january 19, 1975 was an american painter and muralist.
His family migrated to tennessee, where his father died. His burly, energetic and uncompromising paintings are. Thomas hart benton is a grand old fixture of the history of 20th century art. Thomas hart benton definition of thomas hart benton by the. Selznick to create an original painting based on a scene in the film version of tennessee williamss pulitzer prizewinning play, a streetcar named desire.
Thomas hart benton, the race, 1942, lithograph on paper mounted on paperboard, smithsonian american art museum, gift of dr. 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. 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. Thomas hart benton artwork for sale surovek gallery.
A timely and poignant painting of the wreckage caused by massive flooding in 1951 recently came up for auction at sothebys. Thomas hart benton is a 1988 documentary film about painter thomas hart benton by ken burns summary. Thomas hart benton, one of the foremost painters and muralists associated with the american regionalists of the 1930s. His fluid, sculpted figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the united states. However, it never really had a lot of impact on me.
Miller, approaching storm, 1938, printed 1939, lithograph on paper, smithsonian american art museum, gift of maltby sykes, 1976. Thomas hart benton by theodore roosevelt free ebook. The mural is now preserved at the smithsonian institution. Democratic senators left to right sam houston of texas, thomas hart benton of missouri, obscured unidentified man, and south carolinas john calhoun carry a litter. In 1989, in partnership with film maker ken burns, adams produced a documentary on thomas hart benton which was broadcast nationally on pbs to an audience of 20 million. Sunday at the metthomas hart bentons america today mural. After all, he was painting recognizable figures when the rest of the art world had turned to abstraction. Thomas hart benton creates his famous achelous and hercules mural for nowdefunct harzfelds department store in st. Empire of the air recounts the creators of radio, while the congress depicts a unique american institution. The exhibition interlaces benton s canvases and drawings with clips from the movies. Gerhard richter painting the metropolitan museum of art.
534 1615 115 1097 174 838 1360 1087 1079 601 500 464 1009 1305 1145 429 481 481 1257 1419 123 1293 118 561 899 832 104 1427 1283 1554 156 336 931 894 1534 1559 168 1459 1459 386 545 833 743 1151 996 1093 1215 539