Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
Lot 70 Property from an Important West Coast Collection

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)

Resting on the Set

Closed21 November 2017

Price Realised

USD 18,750

More Information

How to sell

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
Resting on the Set
signed 'Benton' (lower right)
ink, wash and pencil on paper
9 ½ x 12 ½ in. (24.1 x 31.8 cm.), image; 10 ¾ x 14 in. (27.3 x 35.6 cm.), sheet
Executed in 1937.

Thomas Hart and Rita P. Benton Testamentary Trusts.
Martha Parrish & James Reinish, Inc., New York.
Acquired by the present owner from the above.

Specialist note

We would like to thank Andrew Thompson and Dr. Henry Adams for their assistance with cataloguing this work.


In 1937, Thomas Hart Benton was commissioned by Life magazine to paint a mural depicting a behind-the-scenes view of the Hollywood movie industry (Hollywood, 1937-38, Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri). In preparation for the project, the artist visited California for a month, sketching and drawing scenes on studio lots, particularly at 20th Century Fox.