Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975

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Thomas Hart Benton (April 15, 1889 – January 19, 1975) was an American painter and muralist. Along with Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry, he was at the forefront of the Regionalist art movement. The fluid, sculpted figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the United States. 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. He also studied in Paris, lived in New York City for more than 20 years and painted 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 and West.

During World War I, he served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia. His war-related work had an enduring effect on his style. He was directed to make drawings and illustrations of shipyard work and life, and this requirement for realistic documentation strongly affected his later style. Later in the war, classified as a "camoufleur", Benton drew the camouflaged ships that entered Norfolk harbor. His work was required for several reasons: to ensure that U.S. ship painters were correctly applying the camouflage schemes, to aid in identifying U.S. ships that might later be lost, and to have records of the ship camouflage of other Allied navies. Benton later said that his work for the Navy "was the most important thing, so far, I had ever done for myself as an artist."

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Walter Berkowitz correspondence with Streeter Blair, 1956-1965 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
creatorOf American Artists Group records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Maynard Walker Gallery records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Groucho Marx Collection National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center
referencedIn Louise Bruner papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Loughery, John. S. S. Van Dine photograph collection [manuscript], f1920-1940. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Correspondence, 1965, from Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Personal Papers of Thomas Hart Benton, 1889-1975 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library University Archives
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Oral history interview with Thomas Hart Benton, 1972. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf William Benton papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Morris W. Primoff papers relating to Thomas Hart Benton Archives of American Art
creatorOf Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Alfred Stieglitz / Georgia O'Keeffe archive, 1728-1986 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Charles Culver papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Fath, Creekmore. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1966. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Ferargil Galleries records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Princeton University. Princeton Print Club. Princeton Print Club records, 1941-1953. Princeton University Library
creatorOf Womer, Mary Louise. Letters, 1939-1941. Missouri State University
referencedIn Charles Pollock papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Review, 1944. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Eastman, Max Forrester, 1883-1969. Eastman mss. 1892-1968 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Brooklyn Museum interviews of artists Archives of American Art
creatorOf James Brooks and Charlotte Park papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Libraries. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library audio archive collection, 1969-2004. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf George, Denny. Does modern art make sense? : America's town meeting of the air : American Broadcasting Company 4/11/51, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign / moderated by Denny George ; featuring Thomas Hart Benton, Stuart Davis, Perry Rathborne ; redacted by Keith Bringe. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
creatorOf Martyl Langsdorf papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1947. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Thomas Hart Benton artist file. Whitney Museum of American Art, Library
referencedIn Love, James Lee, 1860-1950. James Lee Love papers, 1880-1954 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Thomas Hart Benton : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. ALS, 1956 November 15 : Kansas City, Missouri, to David Zingg. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Eva Lee Gallery records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Bassett, Norman, 1891- . Papers, 1932-1956. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf New Britain Museum of American Art records Archives of American Art
referencedIn New School (New York, N.Y.). New School Arts and Public Programs, 1931-2008. New School for Social Research
creatorOf Thomas Hart Benton papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798 - 2007. Official Military Personnel Files, 1885 - 1998. National Archives at St. Louis
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Lorenzo Johnston Greene papers, 1680-1988 Library of Congress. American Folklife Center
creatorOf Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. Letters of Carl Sandburg [manuscript] 1951-1952. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Henry Edwards Scott, Jr. papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971. Carl Ruggles Papers, 1894-1981 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Miscellaneous art exhibition catalog collection Archives of American Art
referencedIn Denys Wortman papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Alfredo Valente papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Correspondence, November 23, 1963, by Benton to Jay Slack. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Ferargil Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Thomas Hart Benton miscellaneous printed material Archives of American Art
creatorOf John Steuart Curry and Curry family papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Mo.). Lincoln collection, 1876-[ongoing]. Lincoln University, Page Library
referencedIn Jones, Herbert C. (Herbert Coffin), 1880-1970. Herbert C. Jones papers, 1921-1944. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Letter to Fleur Cowles. Kansas City, KS. 1952 Nov. 24. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Interview with Thomas Hart Benton [sound recording] / by Bob and Betty Lewis. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Benton, Thomas Hart : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
referencedIn Carl Ruggles Papers, 1894-1981 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Constable, Ann. Ann Constable collection, 1931-1989. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
creatorOf Aline Meyer Liebman papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Saul Zalesch collection of artists' letters and documents Archives of American Art
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Letter to Mr. [Zuigg?]. Kansas City, MO. 1957 Apr. 10. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Jacob Getlar Smith papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Kirkpatrick, John, 1905-1991. The John Kirkpatrick papers, 1836-1993 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Sloan, Clifton B. (Clifton Breeden), 1870-1958. [Graphics-Photographs collection]. University of Missouri-Kansas City, Miller Nichols Library; Health Sciences Library; Dental Library
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. [Personal papers of Thomas Hart Benton] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
referencedIn Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971. Carl Ruggles Papers, 1894-1981 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Macy, George. George Macy papers, 1916-1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Papers of Harriet Goodhue Hosmer, 1834-1959 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Dane Chanase papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf John Weichsel papers concerning the People's Art Guild Archives of American Art
creatorOf Wilbur D. Peat correspondence Archives of American Art
referencedIn Hudson, Manley Ottmer, 1886-1960. Papers, 1894-1960 Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Papers of Arthur Pope, 1907-1979 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
referencedIn R. Buckminster Fuller Papers Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf John Stockton De Martelly papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Wallace Richards papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Jaffe, Louis I. (Louis Isaac), 1888-1950. Papers of Louis I. Jaffe, 1866-1986, (bulk 1924-1950). University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Eva Lee Gallery records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Sanford B. D. Low papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Max Lerner papers, 1927-1998 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Lorenzo Johnston Greene Papers, 1680-1988, (bulk 1933-1972) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn King W. Vidor papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Autograph File, D, 1586-1975. Houghton Library
creatorOf Jerry Bywaters papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Longwell, Daniel, 1899-1968. Daniel Longwell papers, [ca. 1920]-1974. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Letters, 1930-1931. New Hampshire Newspaper Project
referencedIn The John Kirkpatrick Papers, 1836-1993 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Community Art Project records, 1932-1943 Rhode Island School of Design Archives.
referencedIn Photographs of mural paintings. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Brooklyn Museum. Listening to pictures : interviews. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Southern Folklife Collection Artist Name File, 1940-2005 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Edward Laning papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn George Grosz papers, 1893-1981 (inclusive) 1919-1959 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Florentine Films Archives, 1981-1997 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Appleton-Century mss., 1846-1962 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. Letters of tribute to Carl Sandburg [manuscript], 1951-1952. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn McDowell, James L.,. Correspondence of James McDowell, Governor of Virginia, 1843-1845 and congressman, 1846-1851, and of his daughter, Sally Preston Campbell McDowell [manuscript] 1802-1895. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. Letters, 1924-1965, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn George Biddle Papers, 1863-1973, (bulk 1916-1973) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Roger Medearis papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Norman Bassett papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Berkowitz, Walter. [Walter Berkowitz correspondence with Streeter Blair] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
referencedIn Lerner, Max, 1902-2001. Max Lerner papers, 1927-1992 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Homer H. Gruenther Papers. 1953 - 1961. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Whitney Museum of American Art artists' files and records Archives of American Art
creatorOf William Innes Homer papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Tortue Gallery letters Archives of American Art
referencedIn Beer family papers, 1740-1981, 1827-1981 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Lawson, Richard A. Richard A. Lawson collection of Fred Myers, 1910-1980. Southern Illinois University, Morris Library
referencedIn Haskell, Douglas Putnam, 1899-1979. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1929-1971, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Brooklyn Museum interviews of artists Archives of American Art
creatorOf Matthew Baigell papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Lloyd Goodrich papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn History of Indiana University, 1968-1981 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Beer family. Beer family papers, 1740-1981 (inclusive), 1827-1981 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Florentine Films. Florentine Films records, 1981-1997. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Margaret D. Engle letters from artists Archives of American Art
referencedIn Associated American Artists Records, 1916-1974 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975. [Benton, Thomas Hart] : artist file John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library, Ringling Museum Library
creatorOf Aaron Bohrod papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf William Schack papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Herman Cherry Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with George Biddle Archives of American Art
creatorOf Oral history interview with Thomas Hart Benton Archives of American Art
referencedIn Audiovisual Collection, 1957 - 2006. Photographs Relating to the Administration, Family, and Personal Life of Harry S. Truman, 1957 - 2004. Thomas Hart Benton Sketches an Elderly Harry S. Truman, 1971. Harry S. Truman Library
referencedIn Oral history interview with Fairfield Porter Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with James Penney Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Albert Christ-Janer Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Stuyvesant Van Veen Archives of American Art
referencedIn Harry S. Truman Post-Presidential Papers. 1953 - 1973. Subject Files. 1953 - 1972. Letter from Abraham Bernstein to Harry S. Truman, with Attached Handwritten Draft Reply Harry S. Truman Library
referencedIn Oral history interview with Albert Landa Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Ivan C. Karp Archives of American Art
creatorOf Karl E. Fortess interviews with artists Archives of American Art
referencedIn Official Military Personnel Files for Persons of Exceptional Prominence (PEP) list via the National Archives website, viewed November 2, 2021 National Archives at St. Louis
referencedIn Harry S. Truman Library Oral History Collection. 1960 - 2005. Oral History Interviews. 1960 - 2005. Oral History Interview with Thomas Hart Benton Harry S. Truman Library
referencedIn Oral history interview with Helen Marjorie Windust Halper Archives of American Art

Filters:

Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
associatedWith American Artists Group. corporateBody
associatedWith Associated American Artists corporateBody
associatedWith Baigell, Matthew. person
associatedWith Bassett, Norman, 1891- person
associatedWith Beer family family
associatedWith Beer family. family
associatedWith Benton, William, 1900-1973. person
associatedWith Berkowitz, Walter person
associatedWith Berkowitz, Walter. person
associatedWith Biddle, George, 1885- person
associatedWith Bohrod, Aaron. person
associatedWith Brooklyn Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Brooks, James, 1906- person
associatedWith Bywaters, Jerry. person
associatedWith Chanase, Dane, 1894-1964. person
associatedWith Cherry, Herman. person
associatedWith Christ-Janer, Albert, 1910-1973, person
associatedWith Community Art Project corporateBody
associatedWith Constable, Ann. person
associatedWith Cowles, Fleur, person
associatedWith Craven, Thomas, b. 1889. person
associatedWith Culver, Charles B. (Charles Beach), 1908-1967. person
associatedWith Cummings, Paul, person
associatedWith Curry, John Steuart, 1897-1946. person
associatedWith Daniel Gallery. corporateBody
correspondedWith D. Appleton-Century Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Dartmouth College. Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith De Martelly, John Stockton, 1903-1980. person
associatedWith Eastman, Max, 1883-1969 person
associatedWith Engle, Margaret D. person
associatedWith Eva Lee Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Fath, Creekmore. person
associatedWith Ferargil Galleries. corporateBody
associatedWith Florentine Films. corporateBody
associatedWith Fortess, Karl E. (Karl Eugene), 1907- person
associatedWith Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983 person
associatedWith Gallagher, Robert S., person
associatedWith Goodrich, Lloyd, 1897- person
correspondedWith Greene, Lorenzo J. (Lorenzo Johnston), 1899-1988. person
correspondedWith Grosz, George, 1893-1959 person
associatedWith Halper, Helen Marjorie Windust, 1908- person
associatedWith HARRIET GOODHUE HOSMER, 1830-1908 person
associatedWith Haskell, Douglas Putnam, 1899-1979. person
associatedWith Homer, William Innes. person
associatedWith Hudson, Manley Ottmer, 1886- person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
associatedWith Ingram, Rex, 1895-1969. person
associatedWith Jaffe, Louis I. (Louis Isaac), 1888-1950. person
associatedWith John Herron Art Institute. corporateBody
associatedWith Jones, Herbert C. (Herbert Coffin), 1880-1970. person
associatedWith Karp, Ivan C., 1926- person
associatedWith Kirkpatrick, John, 1905-1991. person
associatedWith Landa, Albert, person
associatedWith Laning, Edward, 1906-1981. person
associatedWith Lawson, Richard A. person
associatedWith Lerner, Max, 1902- person
associatedWith Lerner, Max, 1902-2001. person
associatedWith Lewis, Betty Jessel. person
associatedWith Lewis, Robert Foster. person
associatedWith Liebman, Aline Meyer, 1879-1966. person
associatedWith Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Mo.) corporateBody
associatedWith Longwell, Daniel, 1899-1968. person
associatedWith Loughery, John. person
associatedWith Love, James Lee, 1860-1950. person
associatedWith Low, Sanford B. D. (Sanford Ballard Dole), 1905-1964. person
associatedWith Macdonald-Wright, Stanton, 1890-1973. person
associatedWith Macy, George. person
associatedWith Martyl, 1918- person
associatedWith Maynard Walker Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Medearis, Roger, 1920-2001. person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith New Britain Museum of American Art. corporateBody
associatedWith New School (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Orozco, José Clemente, 1883-1949. person
associatedWith Packard, Artemas, 1894- person
associatedWith Penney, James, 1910- person
associatedWith Pollock, Charles C. person
associatedWith Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956. person
associatedWith Pope, Arthur, 1880-1974 person
associatedWith Porter, Fairfield. person
associatedWith Primoff, Morris W. person
correspondedWith Princeton University. Princeton Print Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Reed, Alma M. person
associatedWith Richards, Wallace, 1904-1959. person
associatedWith Robinson, Boardman, 1876-1952. person
associatedWith Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971. person
associatedWith Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. person
associatedWith Schack, William, b. 1898. person
associatedWith Schmeckebier, Laurence Eli, 1906-. person
associatedWith Scott, Henry Edwards, 1900- person
associatedWith Slack, Jay. person
associatedWith Smith, Jacob Getlar, 1898-1958. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946. person
associatedWith The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Tortue Gallery (Santa Monica, Calif.) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Works Progress Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith Valente, Alfredo. person
associatedWith Van Veen, Stuyvesant person
associatedWith Vidor, King, 1894-1982. person
associatedWith Weichsel, John, 1870-1946. person
associatedWith Whitney Museum of American Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Womer, Mary Louise. person
associatedWith Wood, Grant, 1891-1942. person
associatedWith Wortman, Denys, 1887-1958. person
associatedWith Zalesch, Saul, person
associatedWith Zingg, David. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Norfolk VA US
New York City NY US
Missouri MO US
Paris A8 FR
Kansas City MO US
Chicago IL US
Subject
Art, American
Artists, American
Artists, American
Art
Art
Art and state
Artists
Artists
Art, Regional
Caricatures and cartoons
Cartooning
Exhibitions
Muralists
Mural painting and decoration
Mural painting and decoration
Mural painting and decoration, American
Painters
Painters
Regionalism
Regionalism in art
Synchromism (Art)
Occupation
Muralists
Painter
Painters
Painters, American
Activity

Person

Birth 1889-04-15

Death 1975-01-19

Male

Americans

English

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