Thomas Hart Benton

(Missouri, 1889-1975)

Figures on a Street Corner, circa 1935-36

Graphite on paper

11 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Benton scholar Dr. Henry Adams: "This scene of men lounging near derelict buildings, while a woman strolls past them, may be an early rough sketch for the last predella panel of Benton’s Missouri mural, which shows bums loitering by a trash can while an African-American woman gathers coal from the railroad tracks. Since this drawing seems to relate to the sketch, Four Studies of Figures, it was probably made in St. Louis."

Matted to 20" x 16".

Provenance

Benton scholar and author, Dr. Henry Adams, has authenticated the entire collection in person. You can find his essay documenting the 25 year tumultuous friendship of Vincent and Thomas and the origins of the collection at Circle-Auction.com. A copy of his essay will be provided to all winning bidders.

Overall darkening to the sheet from age. There is mat burn to the lower third of the sheet, a bit darker along the bottom edge. Stain in the bottom left corner, small tear at the left edge, and partial pinhole to the center of the composition (between the third and fourth figures, starting from the left).