Thomas Hart Benton

Born: April 15, 1889
City and Country of Origin: Neosho, Missouri
Painting School: Regionalist
Art Training: Art Institute of Chicago, Académie Julian in Paris
Exhibitions: Boston Athenaeum 1859-64, Brooklyn Art Association 1861-79, Boston Art Club 1873-80
Awards:
Major Works: "Missouri State Capitol mural," "Harry S. Truman Presidential Library mural"
Thomas Hart Benton Biography: Benton was born into a family of influential politicians. His father was a lawyer and U.S. congressman and he was named after his great uncle Senator Thomas Hart Benton. As a result he spent his youth living in both his home state of Missouri and Washington DC. While in Paris he met Diego Rivera and Stanton Macdonald Wright. When he completed his studies in Paris Benton returned to New York where he continued his painting while working as a draftsman for the United States Navy. Benton rejected new ideas of modernism and espoused a natural style of painting. His Regionalist style led to his murals at the New School for Social REsearch which he painted in 1930-31. Starting in the 1920s he started teaching at the Art Students League and became active in leftist politics. In 1932 he was chosen toexecute a mural depicting life in Indiana for the 1933 Century of Progess Exhibition in Chicago. In 1935 Benton accepted a position a teaching positions at the Art Institute of Kansas City Missouri. His most famous student would be Jackson Pollock who obviously did not share Benton's views on modernism in art.
Died: January 19, 1975
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