| Thomas Hart Benton was a native of Neosho, Missouri. Benton’s style
developed through his extensive study at the Art Institute of Chicago and
in Paris at the Académie Julian and the Académie Collarossi.
During his Paris studies, Benton experimented with a variety of styles,
including the abstract methods of cubism. In 1912 he returned to the United
States, settling first in New York City before moving to Missouri in 1935.
Benton was then at the height of his career, having made a significant reputation
as a muralist, easel painter and educator. His move away from New York –
the acknowledged center of the American art scene in the 30s – can
be explained both by Benton’s rejection of contemporary art styles
and by his significant ties to Missouri’s history. His father was
a U. S. Congressman, and he was named for his great-uncle the first and
longest-serving Senator of Missouri. These ties and his dedication to a
truly American style and subject matter brought the artist back to his roots
in the Midwest. The images he created of Missouri life, some of which were
used for the Missouri state courthouse murals, consistently reflected his
interest in the life and culture of his home state.
Cradling Wheat is a classic example of Benton’s ability
to infuse a moment of everyday life with emotion and significance. For
Benton, it was the ordinary people whose lives made up the real history
of the region, and scenes such as a group of figures working a field of
wheat were as important – if not more so – than the portraits
of world leaders. The flowing lines of the wheat and the bodies of the
farmers combine into a harmonious composition in praise of rural life.
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