Benney, Robert L., 1904-

Robert Benney, a successful commercial artist and illustrator, gained recognition as a war artist-correspondent during World War II. In 1943 he was hired by Abbott Laboratories to document the Naval Aviation Department's activities in the Pacific. He was commissioned again by Abbott in 1944 to illustrate the Army Medical Department in the South Pacific, where he covered the invasion of Saipan. After WWII, Benney continued to work as an artist-correspondent. He traveled to North Africa in 1954 to illustrate the activities of the United States Air Force. Then in 1968, Benney again offered his skills as an artist, serving with the Marines and covering their activities in Vietnam. His paintings, sketches and drawings are held by all branches of the Armed Services. Between his travels with the military, Benney taught art at Pratt Institute from 1949 to 1952 and at the Dutchess County College from 1964 to 1973. He also continued working as a commercial artist. He was commissioned by large corporations such as the American Sugar Refining Company, Standard Oil Company and Western Electric.

From the description of Robert L. Benney Research Collection, 1933-1978. (New-York Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 479555878

Robert Benney was an illustrator, painter, and war correspondent, known primarily for the combat sketches he made of U.S. military personnel during World War II and the Vietnam War.

In addition to his military work, Benney drew portraits of actors and actresses who appeared in New York theater productions and Hollywood films. Born in 1904, Robert Binney studied art in New York at Cooper Union, The Art Students League, and The National Academy of Design. He began drawing prominent performers of the stage and screen for publication in 1926, while still in his twenties. The drawings appeared in a number of New York newspapers including the Herald-Tribune, the Times, the Post, the Evening World, and the Brooklyn Eagle. During the war, Benney went to the South Pacific and documented the work of Army medical personnel. In later years he was an art instructor at Pratt Institute and Dutchess County College, and also freelanced as a commercial illustrator for advertising agencies. In 1968 Benney resumed military work for two months with the U.S. Marine Corps in Danang, Vietnam. Robert Benney died in Boston in June 2001 at the age of 97.

From the description of Robert Benney research materials, 1926-1978. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122485800

Robert Benney was an illustrator, painter and war correspondent known primarily for the combat sketches he made of U.S. military personnel in the Pacific during World War II.

In addition to his military work, Benney drew portraits of actors and actresses who appeared in New York theater productions and Hollywood films. Born in Romania in 1904, Benney grew up in the United States and studied art in New York at Cooper Union and the National Academy of Design. He began drawing prominent performers of the stage and screen for publication beginning in 1926. His drawings were commissioned by New York newspapers and magazines and, in the late 1930s, by large Hollywood movie studios. Benney also taught art at the college level, worked as a commercial artist for businesses and advertising agencies, had his own studio, and was a war artist correspondent in North Africa (1954) and Vietnam (1968).

From the description of Robert Benney original drawings and research materials, 1926-1978. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122626111

Robert Benney was an illustrator, painter and war correspondent known primarily for the combat sketches he made of U.S. military personnel in the Pacific during World War II.

In addition to his military work, Benney drew portraits of actors and actresses who appeared in New York theater productions and Hollywood films. Born in Romania in 1904, Benney grew up in the United States and studied art in New York at Cooper Union and at the National Academy of Design. He began drawing prominent performers of the stage and screen for publication beginning in 1926. His drawings were commissioned by New York newspapers and magazines and, in the late 1930s, by large Hollywood movie studios. Benney also taught art at the college level, worked as a commercial artist for businesses and advertising agencies, had his own studio, and was a war artist correspondent in North Africa (1954) and Vietnam (1968).

From the description of Robert Benney original drawings, 1926-1947. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122575624

Robert Benney, illustrator and painter, was born in Romania in 1904. He came to New York as a toddler. He studied art at New York's Cooper Union from 1921 to 1925. While in art school at the age of 19, he opened his own studio. Once the studio opened, New York newspapers and magazines began commissioning Benney for his illustration work.

He drew portraits of leading actors and actresses for New York City theater productions. These drawings were printed along side an article about the production in newspapers such as the Herald Tribune, The New York Times, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the New York World and Telegraph, and other Greater New York newspapers of that era. Beginning in the late 1930s, the large Hollywood movie studios, such as Twentieth-Century Fox and United Artists, began commissioning Benney for his illustration talents.

Benney captured theater productions and stage personalities in his drawings in a number of ways. He set appointments with actors or actresses to sketch them during a sitting in their dressing room. He also attended rehearsals and used photographs to sketch his subjects.

While earning a living as a commercial artist, Benney continued going to school. After graduating from Cooper Union, he attended the National Academy of Design from 1928 to1932. He also studied under Frank A. Nankivell. Later he educated future artists at the Pratt Institute between 1949 and 1952 and Dutchess County College between 1964 and 1973.

Benney is most celebrated for his time as a war artist correspondent in the Pacific during World War II. In 1943, Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company based out of Illinois, hired Benney to paint the Naval Aviation Department's contributions to the war. In 1944, Abbott brought Benney back to paint the Army Medical Department's work in the South Pacific. While in WWII, Benney produced four series of paintings; Combat Medicine, Naval Aviation, Oil in Warfare, and Amphibious Operations. His depictions were published in 1944, in Our Flying Navy, and in 1945, in Men Without Guns . As a life member of the Society of Illustrators, he volunteered his services in 1954 to the US Air Force to draw their operations in North Africa. He spent two months with the US Marine Corp as a war artist correspondent documenting their work in Danang, Vietnam in 1968.

Besides the military and the theater industry, Benney worked as a commercial artist for large corporations such as American Sugar Refining Company, American Tobacco Company, General Foods, Shell Oil, Standard Oil Company and Western Electric. He also worked as a freelance illustrator for advertising agencies. When asked one time how an artist should approach a commercial project, Benney said, "The question, 'Is it fine art or commercial art?' is of little interest to the director of a large corporation which exists only for selling company products. The primary factors are: "Does the picture tell the story, does it do it with taste and dignity becoming to the product or industry; and, in the case if institutional advertising, will its art or esthetic content carry over in the public's subconscious mine the good that is so much coveted?'"

His works for the military are housed in permanent collections at such places as the Smithsonian Institution and the US Army, US Navy, US Marine Corp and US Air Force Combat Art Collections. The Museum of the City of New York exhibited Benney's theater drawings as early as 1933. The Library and Museum of the Performing Arts, the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center displayed a collection of Benney's illustrations spanning 1926 to 1942 at the Amsterdam Gallery between May 3, 1978 and June 19, 1978.

By the 1950s, Benney operated studios on West 57th Street in New York City, and in Wallkill, New York. Benney belonged to professional organizations such as the Art Students League, Artists and Writers Association and the Society of Illustrators. Robert Benny died in Boston in June of 2001. At his death, his wife of 28 years, Celia, and his daughter, Alma, survived him.

From the guide to the Robert Benney original drawings, 1926-1947, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Robert Benney, illustrator and painter, was born in Romania in 1904. He came to New York as a toddler. He studied art at New York's Cooper Union from 1921 to 1925. While in art school at the age of 19, he opened his own studio. Once the studio opened, New York newspapers and magazines began commissioning Benney for his illustration work.

He drew portraits of leading actors and actresses for New York City theater productions. These drawings were printed along side an article about the production in newspapers such as the Herald Tribune, The New York Times, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, The New York World and Telegraph, and other Greater New York newspapers of that era. Beginning in the late 1930s, the large Hollywood movie studios, such as Twentieth-Century Fox and United Artists, began commissioning Benney for his illustration talents.

Benney captured theater productions and stage personalities in his drawings in a number of ways. He set appointments with actors or actresses to sketch them during a sitting in their dressing room. He also attended rehearsals and used photographs to sketch his subjects.

While earning a living as a commercial artist, Benney continued going to school. After graduating from Cooper Union, he attended the National Academy of Design from 1928 to1932. He also studied under Frank A. Nankivell. Later he educated future artists at the Pratt Institute between 1949 and 1952 and Dutchess County College between 1964 and 1973.

Benney is most celebrated for his time as a war artist correspondent in the Pacific during World War II. In 1943, Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company based out of Illinois, hired Benney to paint the Naval Aviation Department's contributions to the war. In 1944, Abbott brought Benney back to paint the Army Medical Department's work in the South Pacific. While in WWII, Benney produced four series of paintings; Combat Medicine, Naval Aviation, Oil in Warfare, and Amphibious Operations. His depictions were published in 1944, in Our Flying Navy, and in 1945, in Men Without Guns . As a life member of the Society of Illustrators, he volunteered his services in 1954 to the US Air Force to draw their operations in North Africa. He spent two months with the US Marine Corp as a war artist correspondent documenting their work in Danang, Vietnam in 1968.

Besides the military and the theater industry, Benney worked as a commercial artist for large corporations such as American Sugar Refining Company, American Tobacco Company, General Foods, Shell Oil, Standard Oil Company and Western Electric. He also worked as a freelance illustrator for advertising agencies. When asked one time how an artist should approach a commercial project, Benney said, "The question, 'Is it fine art or commercial art?' is of little interest to the director of a large corporation which exists only for selling company products. The primary factors are: "Does the picture tell the story, does it do it with taste and dignity becoming to the product or industry; and, in the case if institutional advertising, will its art or aesthetic content carry over in the public's subconscious mine the good that is so much coveted?'"

His works for the military are housed in permanent collections at such places as the Smithsonian Institution and the US Army, US Navy, US Marine Corp and US Air Force Combat Art Collections. The Museum of the City of New York exhibited Benney's theater drawings as early as 1933. The Library and Museum of the Performing Arts, the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center displayed a collection of Benney's illustrations spanning 1926 to 1942 at the Amsterdam Gallery between May 3, 1978 and June 19, 1978.

By the 1950s, Benney operated studios on West 57th Street in New York City, and in Wallkill, New York. Benney belonged to professional organizations such as the Art Students League, Artists and Writers Association and the Society of Illustrators. Robert Benney died in Boston in June of 2001.

From the guide to the Robert Benney research materials, 1926-1978, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)