June 11, 2008

Society Adds Sketches to Benton Exhibit

Two meaningful and humorous pencil studies by Thomas Hart Benton have been added to Thomas Hart Benton in the 1930s, on display at the State Historical Society through August 9. In 1935 Benton accepted a commission from the Missouri legislature to paint a mural in the House Lounge of the state capitol. Over the next eighteen months, the artist carefully planned A Social History of Missouri, traveling the state to find and sketch models for the people and animals that would appear in what is acknowledged as a masterpiece of Regionalist art. Two of those sketches are now on display in the Society’s main gallery.

Throughout the months of preparation for painting the mural, Benton spent many hours in the capitol building and selected people he encountered there to model for the painting. Among them was General Harold W. Brown Sr., then Missouri’s adjutant general, on whom Benton based the jury foreman in the courtroom scene. While sketching Harold Brown Sr. at his Jefferson City home, Benton met one-year-old Harold Brown Jr., who became the model for a baby being diapered in the foreground of the mural’s political rally scene.

The younger Brown later became widely known in the capital city as proprietor of the popular Zesto Drive-Ins. Now retired, “Brownie,” as he’s known, views the public display of his bare bottom with a touch of pride, noting that his depiction receives more attention than that of his father. On learning about the State Historical Society’s current exhibition, which features the original color study for the mural’s Jesse James panel and lithographs based on other scenes, Brownie offered to loan Benton’s studies of his father and himself to the Society for inclusion.

Recounting Benton’s explanation of his inscription on the drawing of the younger Brown—“to the Brown’s [sic] with apologies”—Brownie says, “He told my mother, ‘The baby is much prettier, but that’s my drawing style.’”

Thomas Hart Benton in the 1930s is free and open to the public. The State Historical Society is located on the ground floor, east side of Ellis Library on the University of Missouri campus. The main gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. Metered parking is available in three nearby garages.

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posted @ 10:21 AM