Thomas Hart Benton Annotated Bibliography

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Annotated Bibliography

Books:
Adams, H. (1990). Thomas Hart Benton: Drawing from Life. New York: Random House Value Publishers.: Noted muralist, regionalist painter, art theorist, instructor of Jackson Pollock, and controversial figure in the world of art and politics, Benton has received relatively little attention from art historians. In overall format and tone, this chatty, gossipy biography is aimed at a popular audience. Yet it also contains academic discussions on both abstract and realist art and nearly half the 340 illustrations are handsome color plates.
Baigell, M. (2001). Artist and Identity in the 20th Century America. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.: 20th century American art, artists and their communities. Chapter 8: Thomas Hart Benton and the Left.
Benton, T. H. (1969). An American in Art: a Professional and Technical Autobiography. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas.: American regionalism; a personal history of the movement.
Broun, E., Hyland, D., Stokstad, M., Thomas Hart Benton and Rita P. Benton Trusts, & Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art. (1980).Benton's Bentons: Selections from the Thomas Hart Benton and Rita P. Benton Trusts. Lawrence: Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas: Published in conjunction with the exhibition at the Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, July 13- September 13, 1980.
Creekmore, F., & Benton, T. H. (1979). The Lithographs of Thomas Hart Benton (2nd ed.). Austin: University of Texas Press.: Examines the lithographs of Thomas Hart Benton. (In researching Benton, little information appears to be available on his lithographs.)
Creevy, B. (1999). The Oil Painting Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist. New York: Watson-Buptill Publishers.: Offering information on the full scope of oil painting and materials and how to use them to derive the best results from the medium, this indispensable encyclopedia compares leading brands of paints: describes mediums, solvents and varnishes; and discusses brushes, palettes, and other tools.
Cummings, P. (1979). Artists in Their Own Words: Interviews. New York: St. Martin's Press.: Interviews with 20th century artists
Dennis, J. (1998). Renegade Regionalists: The Modern Independence of Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, and John Steuart Curry. Madison: University of Wisconsin.
The work of Wood, Benton and Curry, a trio of acclaimed American painters, is examined in this book, with the author looking at their modernist tendencies and arguing that their styles were both mislabelled and misunderstood. He supports his argument with a thematic assortment of their work.
Dross, E. (1995). Benton, Pollock, and the Politics of the Modernism: From Regionalism to Abstract Expressionism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.: Looks at the art world in the early 20th century and its politics - from regionalism through abstract expressionism.
Edwards, B. (1999). The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (2nd ed.). New York: J. P. Tarcher.: Author has a technique to learn to draw from proven exercises.
Grund, C. (2003). Painting Murals Step-by-Step. Cincinnati: North Light Books.: Brighten your home with 10 stunning projects.
Hopkins, H. L. (1972). Spending to Save: The Complete Story of Relief (2nd ed.). Seattle: University of Washington Press.: Examines unemployment, the Work Projects Administration and public welfare in the United States.
Jennings, S., & Bulgin, S. (1999). Art Class: A Complete Guide to Painting.: Comprehensive book on the different types of painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc.), their supplies, techniques, etc.
Macmahon, A. W., Millett, J. D., & Ogden, G. (1971). The Administration of Federal Work Relief (2 ed. Vol. 12). New York: De Capo Press.: Looks at Franklin D. Roosevelt and the era of the New Deal.
Marling, K. A., & Buckles, M. P. (1985). Tom Benton and His Drawings: A Biographical Essay and a Collection of His Sketches, Studies, and Mural Cartoons: University of Missouri Press.: Few people are neutral about Thomas Hart Benton. His work has been admired by many and despised by others, including art critics who have considered him chauvinistic. Since his death, his reputation has grown in art circles, causing critics and historians to probe more deeply into his life nad art. Marling's fine study of Benton's drawings demonstrates the vitality of his works on paper. The publisher deserves praise for resisting the temptation to provide mere black-and-white reproductions, for the subtle colors of ink washes and paper add considerably to the effect of this superb book. Marling's essays are lively, true to the spirit of the artist and complement rather than overshadow the more than 200 drawings.
Mayer, R., & Sheehan, S. (1991). The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques (5th ed.). New York: Viking.: Explains various painting techniques and materials
Nordmark, O. (1947). Fresco Painting: Modern Methods and Techniques for Painting in Fresco and Secco. New York: American Artists Group.: Mural painting, decoration and techniques
Rogovin, M., Burton, M., & Highfill, H. (1975). Mural Manual: How to Paint Murals for the Classroom, Community Center and Street Corner. Boston: Beacon Press.: Mural painting, decoration, techniques. Includes community art projects.
Seligman, P. (1988). Painting Murals: Images, Ideas and Techniques. Cincinnati: North Light Books.: Mural painting, decoration and techniques.
Venn, B., Weinberg, A. D., Fraser, K., Adams, R., & Whitney Museum of American Art. (1999). Frames of Reference: Looking at American Art, 1900-1950: Works from the Whitney Museum of American Art. New York: Whitney Museum of American Art, in association with the University of California Press.: Extensive book which compiles the works of major American artists of the first half of the 20th century.
White, J. F. (1987). Art in Action: American Art Centers and the New Deal. Metuchen: Scarecrow Press.
Examines Roosevelt's New Deal regarding the federal aid to the arts. Looks at the politics and government in that era.
Wilma, Y. (1977). Maverick with a Paintbrush: Thomas Hart Benton. New York: Doubleday.
Examines the life and works of Thomas Hart Benton
Magazines:
Baigell, M., & Kaufman, A. (Jun77). The Missouri Murals: Another Look at Benton. Art Journal, 36, 8.: Examines the artistic and social evils associated with the mural paintings of artist Thomas Hart Benton. Range of social issues and themes explored by Benton's murals; Artistic styles; Sample Benton's art work.
Brach, P. (May99). Laocoon in the Water Lilies. Art in America Magazine, 87, 6.: Focuses on the personal and artistic conflicts of American painter Jackson Pollock. Personal background: Thomas Hart Benton as Pollock's first mentor; Characteristics of Pollock's works during the 1940's; focus on Pollock's drip paintings.
Goodman, C. J. (Dec89). Benton's Enduring American Art. American Artist Magazine, 53, 30.: 1st part of a two part story. Presents the beginning of a profile of the life and work of Thomas Hart Benton as an adventurous pathfinder in Modern Art. (Part 2 - American Artist, Jan90, Vol54, 1, 7p.)
Hughes, R. (May 1, 1989). Tarted Up till the Eye Cries Uncle. Time Magazine.: Review of the exhibit by the same name at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
Klinkenborg, V. (April89) Thomas Hart Benton Came from Missouri -- and He Showed 'em. Smithsonian Magazine, 20(1), 20.: Features the life and work of American painter Thomas Hart Benton. Personal and career background; Factors that affected the career of Benton; Stay of Benton in Paris France; Stint with the U.S. Navy; Popular works and murals; Themes and literary styles; Major influences; Mechanics of form organization.
Medearis, R. (Summer/Fall 1990). Student of Thomas Hart Benton. American Art Magazine, 4, 16.: Discusses the author's studies under artist Thomas Hart Benton while at the Kansas City Art Institute, and presents reminiscences which the author wrote in 1986. Relationship with Benton after he left the school; Benton's talents; Benton's thoughts on teaching; His trade rather than his profession; The Art Students League in New York.
Slides:
Educational Dimensions Group. (1976). Pompeii -- Wall Paintings [slides]. Stamford, Conn: Educational Dimensions Group.: Examines the ancient art of Roman wall painting. Studies techniques and tools used in the production of nearly two centuries of this art form.
Videos:
Burns, K. (1996). Ken Burns' America - Thomas Hart Benton [video recording]. Atlanta: Turner Home Entertainment.: Acclaimed documentary director Ken burns profiles this vivid muralist of the American populace.
Indiana University Instructional Support Services. (2001). The Indiana Murals of Thomas Hart Benton: visions of the past, lessons for the present and treasures for the future. [video recording]. Bloomington: Indiana University, Instructional Support Services.: Presents the story of the murals (depicting the history of the state of Indiana from the early Native Americans until the 1930's) from their creation for the World's Fair of 1933 to a major restoration in the 1990's.

Web Pages:
Art Magazine. (2002). "Thomas Hart Benton". Retrieved April 4, 2004, from www.ebsqart.com/ArtMagazine/za_176.htm: Looks at Benton's connection to the Modern Art Synchromists Movement.
Department of the Navy. (2001). "Thomas Hart Benton". Retrieved April 3, 2004, from www.history.navy.mil/ac/benton/benton1.htm: Examines Benton's works with a naval theme - general naval art, the amphibious operations and the Silent Service (submarines). This webpage accompanied the traveling exhibit of 25 of his works.
eThemes. (2000). "Missouri: Artists Thomas Hart Benton and George Caleb Bingham". Retrieved April 4, 2004, from emints.more.net/ethemes/resources/S00000601.shtml: Good site for exploring the period in which Benton and Bingham were most productive - the 1930's. Site has links to Benton, to Bingham, to 1930's Realism, fur trading and a link to a site that has the video "coming Through: Missourians Explore Trails West". Excellent site on history of era, on the painters and also useful for art education instructors.
Indiana Univeristy Office of Academic Affairs & Dean of the Faculties. (2003). "Parks, the Circus, the Klan, the Press" in Its Contexts". Retrieved April 3, 2004, from www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/benton/: Examines Benton's works in regard to his Indiana murals commissioned for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The information is from the book, "Thomas Hart Benton and the Indiana Murals' by Kathleen Foster, Nanette Esseck Brewer and Margaret Contompasis. The real gem in this web page are the little videos on the works, which cover the works' significance, history and controversy, the Black Student Union perspective on the murals, and reactions and perspectives concerning the murals
Malyon, J. (2003). "Thomas Hart Benton, American Regionalist Painter 1889-1975". Retrieved April 6, 2004, from www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/benton_thomas_hart.html: Categories for links are: paintings in museums and art galleries, professional tools (auction info - full information not accessible without a fee), pictures from image archives, other web sites, articles.
Springfield Library and Museum Associations. (2000). "On the Road with Thomas Hart Benton: Images of a Changing America". Retrieved April 6, 2004, from www.tfaoi.com/newsm1/n1m613.htm: Examines Benton's works. Has links to other web pages/resources on Benton.
State of Missouri. "The Missouri State Capital: Thomas Hart Benton". Retrieved April 3, 2004, from www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/5437/Benton.html: Examines the works of Missouri's native son, Thomas Hart Benton, that cover the walls of the State Capital building. They were started in 1936 and Benton assisted in the restoration in 1960. The murals describe the state history depicting scenes of pioneer days, the Civil War, Pony Express, the importance of railways to the area and many more events that helped shape Missouri.
Truman Presidential Museum & Library. "Independence and the Opening of the West by Thomas Hart Benton". Retrieved April 3, 2004, from www.trumanlibrary.org/teacher/benton.htm: Benton started on the murals in 1960, three years after the library was founded. Benton depicted three decades in the murals, 1817 to 1847, which depicted Independence's history of being the last city before the frontier. Excellent site for art education teachers: activity pages with lesson plans, follow up activities, vocabulary, links, etc.
United States of America's Library of Congress. retrieved April 3, 2004 from, www.loc.gov: The US's national bibliography with capabilities of searching for books, CDs, videos, etc. There are also links to American history, international resources, exhibitions (on line galleries), legislative information, and American library.