Week #4 in my Winter Weekend series on artist’s I love – This week it’s Thomas Hart Benton, 1889-1975.
The Music Lesson
Benton started out in Missouri as the son of a US Senator. As a result he was well-educated, world-wise and somewhat wealthy. He spent time in New York and Paris learning his craft as an artist, trying on different styles. Eventually he moved back to Missouri and embraced what became known as Regionalism. His images depict farmers, families, workers and environments that show an everyday America.
Wreck of the Old 97
He often showed a tension between the new and old, in particular how that tension affected the growth of America into the west. You will see again and again a stylistic ‘bump’ in the middle of many of his paintings. This swell, as if the world was fluid like an ocean, is one of my favorite things about his work.
Persephone
As did many artists, Benton loved to reinterpret ancient myths. This image is a midwestern play on the myth of Persephone. Through a series of calamities she was condemned to Hades. A bargain was struck with the Gods by which she could spend half her time above ground, on the earth, and then return to Hades for the other half. Thus was born the reason behind our spring and summer seasons of bounty and growth and our autumn and winter seasons of death and desolation.
Benton Murals – Missouri State House
Benton painted many murals, including a number in the Missouri State House. One of the items on my bucket list is to visit Kansas City and surrounding areas to tour all the amazing murals he created.
Sources of Country Music
‘The Sources of Country Music’ was his final painting. It was still on his easel when he died in 1975.
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Have a gelatone picture of this…wanting to know how much it’d go for. Can’t find gelatone on the internet.
Hi Jennifer, I also have never heard of Gelatone. Since all of the artwork shown above are one of a kind paintings your version is some sort of reproduction. I doubt it is worth much if it is a reproduction, but I am not an appraiser or art expert in this field. I suggest taking a photo of the piece and sending it to an appraiser or perhaps a gallery that specialized in Benton imagery.
Marty, I’ve greatly enjoyed your Winter Weekend Artists series. I appreciate your cogent comments on each piece of art. I once took an art history class while studying in Avignon, France during my sophomore year at the University of Montana. Our semester project involved choosing one French painting, one sculpture and one piece of architecture, and then writing about each. This assignment deepened my interest in and appreciation of art. I’ve taken short classes in drawing and watercolor, and would like to learn more.