Thomas Hart Benton and the Indiana Murals (Paperback)

Ringing the Indiana Hall at Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition in 1933 was a bold and colorful cycle of paintings by American muralist Thomas Hart Benton, depicting the history of the Hoosier state from the time of the Mound Builders to the age of basketball and the Indianapolis 500. In this dramatic 250-foot mural, which has been permanently displayed on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University since 1941, Benton created an art that spoke to average citizens in a realist style. The first full-scale treatment of the history, method, and significance of this monument of American public art, Thomas Hart Benton and the Indiana Murals features a full-color gatefold showing the flow of the murals and a portfolio of color reproductions of the 22 extant panels with interpretive texts. Accompanying essays discuss the murals' history and their installation at Indiana University, the visual narrative that Benton invented, the artist's method as seen in a series of preparatory drawings, and a detailed account of their conservation. An illustrated checklist of 88 related drawings enhances understanding of Benton's project. This beautifully designed celebration of Benton's Indiana murals will appeal to readers interested in Benton's work, Hoosier history, and American public art.