Benton home to unveil important new work

The Thomas Hart Benton home in the Roanoke neighborhood, a state historic site, will unveil a unique piece by the artist on April 19.

The site at 3616 Belleview includes Benton’s home and studio and offers a glimpse into life of the painter, sculptor, lecturer and author.

At 2 p.m. on April 19, site staff will discuss recent changes to the site, plans for the future and offer guided tours. The public is also invited to comment on the facilities of the site.

“After the meeting, there will be the unveiling of an important new art acquisition,” according to site staff. “The Benton Home recently received on loan an original drawing, made by Tom in the fall of 1907 while he was an 18-year old student at the Art Institute of Chicago. This is a very unique piece, as almost none of his early work survives – his parents’ home in Neosho burned in 1917. It has only been on view to the public once before, during the Benton retrospective exhibit in Joplin in 1973.”