Thomas Hart Benton, June Morning, 1945

Thomas Hart Benton (American, 1889 – 1975)
June Morning, 1945
Oil on Masonite, 42 x 48 in.
Cummer Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from the Cummer Council, the Morton R. Hirschberg Bequest, and the Mae W. Schultz Charitable Lead Trust, AP.1994.2.1

I learned of this painting, which was in a private collection in England when I was doing research for the Benton retrospective. In 1994, during a downturn in the art market, it was put up for sale at Christie’s and failed to meet the reserve. After some negotiations, I purchased it for the Cummer shortly afterward. The painting shows the view from the home of Benton’s mother on Martha’s Vineyard and was painted one month after Germany’s surrender in World War II. It’s tempting to see the storm clouds as a symbol of the passing storm of war. Continuing in this vein of interpretation, perhaps the lush foliage contrasting with the dead tree symbolizes the cycle of life.

Bibliography
Henry Adams, “Director's Letter" (acquisition of Thomas Hart Benton's June Morning, 1945), Calendar of the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, April 1995.