50 YEARS OF

THE BENTON

For the past 50 years, The William Benton Museum of Art on the Storrs campus has been Connecticut’s State Art Museum. In that time it has amassed a permanent collection of more than 6,500 paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, photographs, and sculptures, while serving as host to curated and traveling exhibitions dating from the 15th through the 21st centuries.

Exhibitions at The Benton have included works by Ansel Adams, George Bellows, Mary Cassatt, Salvador Dali, Guerrilla Girls, Winslow Homer, Käthe Kollwitz, Robert Motherwell, Norman Rockwell, Auguste Rodin, Cynthia Reeves Snow, and Frank Stella, among many others. The Museum’s array of special events includes gallery talks, campus art walks, academic and nonacademic discussions, musical performances, and family programs. — KENNETH BEST

In honor of The Benton’s fiftieth anniversary, we’ve culled photographs of pieces from favorite visiting exhibitions.

Photograph of puppets in main room at The Benton, Peter Morenus

Speak Up! Speak Out!

Bread & Puppet Theater, 2015

1887 Silk Bodice donated by Mrs. Fitch Cheney in 1974

Photograph of puppets in main room at The Benton, Peter Morenus
Painting of Japanese internment camps and images of postcards depicting internment camps from J.L. DeWitt

The Art of Gaman:

Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942–1946, 2008

1887 Silk Bodice donated by Mrs. Fitch Cheney in 1974

Painting of Japanese internment camps and images of postcards depicting internment camps from J.L. DeWitt
Steven Kern, center, director of the Benton Museum, center, and Thomas Bruhn, curator, upper right, look on as workers from Mariano Brothers of Bethel move a statue by Rodin into place at the Benton Museum.

Rodin:

A Magnificent Obsession — Sculpture from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 2007

Steven Kern, center, director of the Benton Museum, center, and Thomas Bruhn, curator, upper right, look on as workers from Mariano Brothers of Bethel move a statue by Rodin into place at the Benton Museum.
Image of a crocheted print of a woman in a red shirt

Women’s Work, Women’s Dreams:

A Century of Swedish Women’s Arts, 2009

Piece by Eva Björkström

Image of a crocheted print of a woman in a red shirt
Left to right: New Year’s Day in the Quarry (Marl Hole), 2006 St. Mary’s Blues (Sky), 2006 View From Red Banks School, 2000 New Year’s Marl Hole, 2007 Top of Lamorna to You, 2004 Black River from the Elgin Road View, 2005

Barkley L. Hendricks:

Some Like It Hot, 2011

Left to right: New Year’s Day in the Quarry (Marl Hole), 2006 St. Mary’s Blues (Sky), 2006 View From Red Banks School, 2000 New Year’s Marl Hole, 2007 Top of Lamorna to You, 2004 Black River from the Elgin Road View, 2005
1998 Exhibition Catalog Cover

El Dia de Los Muertos:

Day of the Dead/Mexican Artifacts and Altars, 1998.

Cover of 1998 exhibition catalog

1998 Exhibition Catalog Cover
Black and white print image of a farming town and a man with a napsack

A Loan Exhibition of Shaker Craftsmanship Primarily from Hancock Shaker Village

Simple Gifts – Hands to Work and Hearts to God, 1978

Black and white print image of a farming town and a man with a napsack
Silk brown and gold Bodice on mannequin

Women of New England:

Dress from the Industrial Age, 1850–1900, 2012

1887 Silk Bodice donated by Mrs. Fitch Cheney in 1974.

Silk brown and gold Bodice on mannequin
Image of large green face overlooking a woman covered with stars standing among flames and people rioting

From Amazing Stories to Weird Tales:

Covering Pulp Fiction, 2010

Virgil Finlay, Cover art for Famous Fantastic Mysteries, June 1942

Image of large green face overlooking a woman covered with stars standing among flames and people rioting
Monks from Namyal Monastery in Ithaca, N.Y., created Mandala of Compassion as part of the Museum's Mystical Arts of Tibet exhibition. It took an entire week to complete the sacred sand painting, which was then dismantled and the sand poured into Mirror Lake.

The Mystical Arts of Tibet

2002

Monks from Namyal Monastery in Ithaca, N.Y., created Mandala of Compassion as part of the Museum's Mystical Arts of Tibet exhibition. It took an entire week to complete the sacred sand painting, which was then dismantled and the sand poured into Mirror Lake.

Monks from Namyal Monastery in Ithaca, N.Y., created Mandala of Compassion as part of the Museum's Mystical Arts of Tibet exhibition. It took an entire week to complete the sacred sand painting, which was then dismantled and the sand poured into Mirror Lake.
image of a large branch on a wooden floor

Wood:

Installations and Drawings by Bryan Nash Gill, 1993

Bent, 1992 – yellow pine, twine, 11’ x 7’ x 8’

image of a large branch on a wooden floor

Below, find examples of pieces added to the museum’s permanent collection, one for each year from 1967 to 2016.

Painting of saint with arrow in abdomen

1967
Benjamin West American, 1738 – 1820 Venus Comforting Europa, 1772 Oil on Canvas Alumni Annual Giving Program and Museum Purchase

Pastel drawing of man with open mouth raising arm

1968
Käthe Kollwitz German, 1867 – 1945 Nie Wieder Krieg, 1924 Lithograph The Walter Landauer Collection of Käthe Kollwitz

Painting of woman wearing striped dress and pearl necklace

1969
Ellen Emmet Rand American, 1876 – 1941 Mrs. John Potter, 1940 Oil on Canvas Gift of John A., William B., and Christopher T. E. Rand

Painting of woman with cupid and venus

1970
Benjamin West American, 1738 – 1820 Venus Comforting Europa, 1772 Oil on Canvas Alumni Annual Giving Program and Museum Purchase

Painting of Japanese men on floor in front of Emperor

1971
Ichiyasai Kuniyoshi Japanese, 1797 – 1861 Minamoto Yoritomo (Shogun 1147-1199) Distributes Treasures To His Men, 1852, Color Woodcut Triptych on Mounted Paper Gift of Joseph F. McCrindle

Painting of landscape with blue mountains and lake

1972
William Louis Sonntag American, 1822 - 1900 Blue Ridge Wilderness, 1859-1860 Oil on Canvas Museum Purchase

Oil painting of men in theatre at burlesque

1973
Reginald Marsh American, 1898 - 1954 Irving Place Burlesque, 1930 Oil on Canvas Mounted on Masonite Gift of John H. Benton

Painting of woman sitting in mourning

1974
Angelica Kauffmann Swiss, 1741 - 1807 Calypso Mourning Over the Departure of Ulysses, c. 1779 Oil on Wood Panel The Louise Crombie Beach Memorial Fund

Watercolor painting of cape cod shore line

1975
George Grosz German, 1893 - 1959 Cape Cod Landscape, c. 1930 Watercolor Gift of Jennifer Gordon Pengh Bush and Dr. Martin H. Bush

Photograph of Käthe Kollwitz

1976
Lotte Jacobi American, 1986 - 1990 Portrait of Käthe Kollwitz, 1930 Photograph Gift of Friends of the Museum

Poster of American soldier with trumpet and flag

1977
Hazel Roberts Your Country Needs You!, 1917-1918 Color Lithograph Poster Gift of Robert Elson

painting of framed bouquet of flowers

1978
Marsden Hartley American, 1877 - 1943 Anemones Oil on Canvas Gift of Helen Benton Boley

Abstract painting of black diamond over red and peach paint

1979
Robert Motherwell American, 1915 – 1991 A View No. 13, 1958 Oil on Board The Louise Crombie Beach Memorial Collection and Gift of The Dedalus Foundation Inc.

Painting of pastel pink yellow blue green on canvas

1980
Manierre Dawson American, 1887 – 1969 Karl Gray, 1919 Oil on Canvas Gift of Lefferts Mabie, Frank McKeown, Jr. and Lewis J. Obi

Painting of woman in black sitting in chair with fan

1981
Mary Foote American, 1872 – 1968 Lady In Black Oil on Canvas on Cardboard Gift of Edward J. Foote

Print of woodcut of black and green lines

1982
Frank Stella American, b. 1936 Imola Five II, 1983 Woodcut and Relief Print Gift of Judie and Howard L. Ganek

Watercolor painting of autumn landscape

1983
Cynthia Reeves Snow American, 1906 – 2001 Fall Scene, 1954 Watercolor The Esther and James Barnett Collection of American Paintings

Image in black and white of tree trunk

1984
Edward Weston American, 1886 – 1958 Juniper/Tenya Lake, 1937 Gelatin Silver Print Gift of Kenneth Hanson

Oil painting of bodies of three woman yellow and green and blue background

1985
Emilio Cruz American, 1938 – 2004 Forest Figures #2, 1962 Oil on Canvas Board Gift of Virginia M. Zabriskie

Pastel painting of landscape on paper

1986
Henry Cook White American, 1861 – 1952 Landscape Pastel on Beige Paper Gift of Henry C., Nelson H., and George C. White

Painting of woman in divine comedy

1987
Roberto Panichi Italian, b. 1937 from Dante’s DIVINE COMEDY: Inferno XV.40 Pero va oltre: i’ ti verro a panni (Brunetto Latini) (Brunetto Latini), 1985-6 Tempera on Paper Gift of the Artist

Watercolor painting of slaughtered animals hanging by legs

1988
Theo Hios The Pascal Lamb, 1984 Ink and Watercolor Gift of Themis Hios

Image of black pencil lines on off white paper

1989
Fritz Bultman American, 1919 – 1985 Don On One Leg, 1961 Pencil on Paper Gift of Jeanne Bultman

Print image of x-ray in two circles

1990
Harold Spencer Memento Mori – 1982 (from CONNECTICUT SUITE OF PRINTS),1982 Screen Print Gift of The Estate of Robert H. Gray

Painting of woman at cherry blossom tree

1991
Henry Mosler American, 1841 – 1920 Untitled, 1909 Oil on Shaped Canvas Gift of Joseph F. McCrindle

Painting of man on ground and three referees

1992
James Watrous American, 1908-1999 Time Out, 1938 Tempera on Masonite Gift of Virginia and Robert W. Stallman

Drawing of dancer in blue sitting in chair

1993
Isaac Soyer American (born Russian), 1902 – 1981 Dancer At Practice Color Lithograph Gift of Frank Maslan and Roslyne Eisenberg Rosenfield Maslan, '46, JD '71

Oil painting of boat at a dock

1994
George Albert Thompson American, 1868 - 1938 Boats At Dock Oil on Masonite Gift of George Hollenberg

Image of yellow wooden chair

1995
Frank Lloyd Wright American, 1867 - 1989 Peacock Chair from the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, 1921 Bequest of Wilma B. Keyes

Print by Dali of distorted clock on playing card

1996
Salvador Dali Spanish, 1904 - 1989 Ace of Diamonds (from PLAYING CARD SUITE), 1970 Screen Print Gift of Reese Palley and Marilyn Arnold Palley

Drawing of dentist and boy with baseball and bat

1997
Norman Rockwell American, 1894 - 1978 Expected and Unexpected Lithograph Gift of Charles G. Jordan, Jr.

Print of face in yellow and purple using dye diffusion

1998
Ellen Carey American, b. 1952 Untitled (Self-Portrait), 1987 Dye Diffusion Transfer Print Gift of the Artist in Memory of her Father, Richard John Carey

Acrylic painting of blue kitchen with watermelon

1999
Tomie dePaola American, b. 1934 Frida's Kitchen, 1995 Acrylic on Paper Gift of Tomie A. dePaola

Image of blue and yellow paint over pink music sheet and poem

2000
Cleve Gray American, 1918 - 2004 End of a Chapter - Poem of John Hollander; Music by Elliott Carter Gift of the Artist

Image of woman in red looking down with pen at scroll

2001
Roger Shimomura American, b. 1936 For Tukio Ueyama / From the Mistaken Identities Suite Full Set of 6 Lithographs, Edition 45 The Louise Crombie Beach Memorial Fund

Photo in black and white of two women in San Miguel

2002
Livia Corona Mexican, Isabel Cortez y Cecilia Mendez interpretandoa Alicia Villareal y Selena en San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mayo 1998 Photograph Gift of the Artist

Painting using watercolor of man with dog in rabbit patch

2003
Benny Andrews American, 1930 - 2006 Rabbit Patch Oil, Watercolor and Collage on Paper The Contemporary World Art Fund and The Esther and James Barnett Fund for American Paintings and The Artist‚ Resource Trust

Painting on wooden panel with gouache and gold leaf of woman with blue background

2004
Siona Benjamin Indian, b. 1960 Finding Home #64 Hagar, 2003 Gouache and Gold Leaf on Wood Panel Contemporary World Art Fund

Engraving of woman with horn outside of home with cat

2005
Winslow Homer American, 1836 - 1910 The Dinner Horn, Harper’s Weekly, 1870 Wood Engraving Robert S. and Naomi C. Dennison Fund for Acquisition

Painting of headless nude woman with snakes

2006
Bari Kumar Indian, b. 1966 Good Luck, 1996 Oil on Canvas Contemporary World Art Fund

Painting of youth sleeping next to statue in Italian landscape

2007
Jan Weenix Dutch, 1642 - 1719 A Sleeping Youth in an Italianate Landscape with Simone Moschino's Statue of the Apotheosis of Alessandro Farnese, c. 1660 Oil on Canvas The Louise Crombie Beach Memorial Fund

Image of black and white prints featuring beggar

2008
Pierre Alexandre Tardieu French, 1756 – 1844 Tromp l‚’oeil with Callot’s Beggar, 1792-1802 Etching and Aquatint Print Black and White with Hand Coloring Added Robert S. and Naomi C. Dennison Fund for Acquisition

Print of three yellow and black circles

2009
Harold Krisel American, 1920 - 1995 Trio Ripple – Yellow, 1971 Screen Print on Paper Gift of Michael Sherman

Image of a woman staring back at the viewer. She wears a headscarf of blue and yellow

2010
Alfredo Jaar Chilean, b. 1956 R (Refugee), 1991 Light Box, Photo Transparency, 6 Mirrors Contemporary World Art Fund

Abstract piece containing paint and plexiglas on masonite

2011
Paul Zelanski American, 1931-2015 Lines, 1973 Paint and Plexiglas on Masonite Gift of the Artist

Two men playing one-on-one basketball. One man is shooting the basketball into a hanging noose as if it were a hoop

2012
Hank Willis Thomas American, b. 1976 And One, 2011 Digital Chromogenic Color Print Museum Purchase

Painted dancer created with broad strokes of colors and red/brown hues

2013
Everett Shinn American, 1876 – 1953 The Dancer, 1909 Oil on Board Gift of Charles and Marjorie Benton

black and white photo depicting mountains bathed in morning light from Sierra Nevada from Lone Pine California

2014
Ansel Adams American, 1902 -1984 Winter Sunrise, Sierra Nevada from Lone Pine California, 1944 Gelatin Silver Print Gift of Kenneth Hanson

Photo of a magnolia blossom in black and white

2015
Imogen Cunningham American, 1883 - 1976 Magnolia Blossoms, 1925 Gelatin Silver Print Gift of Kenneth Hanson

Art piece dipicting a gorillas hand writing a note with a flower adorning the top. The note reads, Dearest Art Collector, It has come to my attention that your collection, like most, does not contain enough art by women. We know that feel terrible about this and will rectify the situation immediately. All our love, Guerrilla Girls

2016
Guerrilla Girls American, b. 1985 Dearest Art Collector Purchase from the Contemporary World Art Fund

Discuss

  1. September 1974 I was a UCONN freshman, I had a work-study allotment as part of my financial aid package. I went to the Benton museum to apply for a position that was opened. I did not get the position and I never went back to the Benton (even though for four years I passed the museum on my way to classes) until approximately 2009 when on a very cold January day I happened to be in Storrs. The museum had a very interesting exhibit on Japanese Americans and WWII. At that time I realized I missed the opportunity to have experienced many exhibits that the museum had presented over that 35 year time span. I encourage everyone not to make that same mistake. Visit and appreciate the fine museum you have at your doorstep.

    Reply

Leave a Reply