Description:

Benton Thomas 1889 - 1975 Thomas Benton ALS with lovely postcard depicting one of his murals

Single page ALS, 7.5" x 10.5", on Thomas Benton Stationary. Signed and dated by Benton as "Tom", and dated "Nov 14 - '68". Near fine with residual paper clip mark to upper margin. Accompanied by the original postmarked mailing envelope, 7.5" x 4", stamped and postmarked Nov 15, 1968. Near fine with small tear to envelope flap. Benton included an beautiful postcard with the letter, 5.5" x 3.5" (so the post card is not postmarked, depicting one of Benton's Mural paintings "Independence and the Opening of the West". Scripted note on verso most likely in the hand of his wife saying "Christmas Greetings from the Bentons". Fine condition.


A lovely ALS penned by Benton to Leonard Lyons of the New York Post. Lyons used to write the gossip column in the New York Post in the 1960's. This fantastic letter by Benton is rich in discussion about his painting, including noting that he was in New York City working on the old rural paintings at the New School,"I have a retrospective exhibition coming up at the Graham Galleries on Madison Ave ... This is the first time since 1945 I've had a New York showing ... two of the pictures go back to my Paris days of 1909 and '10. It is a six decade exhibition!" But perhaps the most personal and jocular comment he offered was, "I am physically O.K. - and so is Rita - but we are off the cocktail party and honoring circuits. We get too tired trying to make conversation with a lot of people. I can walk mile in the Ozark hills but once around a cocktail table and I'm pooped".

A fantastic revealing letter, wonderful to read as you can clearly see that Benton's art had been in high regard and coveted long before his death. Today, in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art sits a full four wall mural which surrounds the entire room. One can clearly say that Benton's art will now have a permanent "New York" showing and will be on exhibit at one of the most widely recognized museums worldwide.

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June 14, 2017 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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