Thomas Hart Benton 1889-1975
55.9 x 41.3 cm
Thomas Hart Benton first traveled to Martha’s Vineyard in 1920, far ahead of the crowds that eventually transformed it into a popular vacation destination. The region had a profound impact on the artist, prompting him to later purchase a cottage in the town of Chilmark. A dynamic example of Benton’s nature subjects, Paint Mill Brook, Chilmark (Woodland Stream) (1969) was produced in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard, where the artist entered a highly prolific period of his career. Benton’s lush portrayal of the natural world contrasts with the industrial purpose of King’s Paint Mill, founded north of Roaring Brook to transform clay deposits into powder used to make paint. In the present work, Benton applied polymer tempera to the paper sheet in controlled but lively strokes, reflecting the sinuous curves of the flowing brook.
Provenance
The artist; toThe Thomas Hart and Rita Piacenza Benton Testamentary Trusts, 1975 until the present
Exhibitions
Edith C. Blum Art Institute, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York; Center Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; Queens Museum, New York; Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, New York, Thomas Hart Benton: Chronicler of America's Folk Heritage, November 3, 1984–July 6, 1985, no. 32Literature
Linda Weintraub, Matthew Baigell, Archie Green, Alan Buechner, Thomas Hart Benton: Chronicler of America's Folk Heritage, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York: Bard College, 1984, p. 80, as Woodland Stream, c. 1960s, watercolor on paperSubscribe to our mailing list to receive updates from the gallery
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