• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lost Prairie Press

Lost Prairie Press

Trending News from the Midwest - IA, IL, KS, MO, NE

  • Home
  • MIDWEST
  • ILLINOIS
  • IOWA
  • KANSAS
  • MISSOURI
  • NEBRASKA
  • About Us
    • Contact Us

Heirs to painting by famous artist Thomas Hart Benton uncover a two-for-one surprise

{{featured_button_text}}

Thomas R. Benton painting

Lincoln Art Company owner Cole Sartore holds a framed Thomas Hart Benton painting attached to the back of another Benton painting. Benton, who died in 1975, is one of America’s foremost regionalist painters. The double painting was uncovered when the owner died and heirs brought the painting to Sartore to commission its sale.

Thomas R. Benton painting

Thomas Hart Benton painted this study for a larger work entitled “Still Life with Red Rose.” 

Nyla Tipton Hall

Nyla Tipton Hall, who acquired a Thomas Hart Benton painting in the 1940s, is shown here celebrating her 96th birthday in 2019.

Cindy Lange-Kubick

There was a story about how Aunt Nyla came to own the painting in her living room, that colorful still life depicting a table set for one.

The story of the 50-cent raffle.

Nyla Tipton Hall lived in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband William back then. She worked in the offices of TWA, where the airline’s owner — and eccentric mogul — Howard Hughes would sometimes stroll past her desk and say hello.

She was an office worker of some sort, her nephew, Bob Tipton, said last week. Not an art collector.

Nyla and William never had children, but their nieces and nephews were as close to their own as it could get, and Tipton remembers the painting hanging in that Kansas City living room and later in his aunt and uncle’s condo in Brownsville, Texas.

He remembers what his aunt would always say: That painting is worth something because it’s a Thomas Hart Benton original.

What she didn’t know was this: It was two Thomas Hart Benton originals.

Benton lived in Kansas City. The painter had spent time in Paris and nearly 20 years in New York City, too, making a reputation for himself.

His self-portrait graced the cover of Time magazine in 1934 and on the inside pages, he was touted as one of America’s foremost regionalist painters along with Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry.

He painted idealized scenes of labor, city scenes and paintings that reflected his affinity for Martha’s Vineyard and the Ozarks of his childhood.

In the middle of his long career — 1943 was the date written on the 5×7 still life — Aunt Nyla became the owner of one of his works.

“One of the stories was that she won it in a political fundraiser raffle,” her nephew said. “That’s hard for me to believe because she was a staunch Republican and Benton was a Democrat.”

But the raffle story stuck, its exact details lost to time.

And the painting stuck around, too, until Aunt Nyla died in March 2020, a few months after her 97th birthday.

When the family prepared her estate, they needed to make a decision about the painting.

Cindy Lange-Kubick: Josh is the man in charge of PooPatrol and his own destiny

“We decided it wasn’t right for one of us to hang on to it, so we decided to sell it,” Tipton said.

Tipton lives in Superior, Nebraska, and a friend in the art world pointed him toward Cole Sartore, owner of the Lincoln Art Company and a curator of Midwestern art.

Sartore agreed to sell the painting for the family on commission.

And last summer, in the midst of the pandemic, Tipton delivered it to the gallery on South 48th Street.

Support Local Journalism

Your membership makes our reporting possible.

{{featured_button_text}}

Sartore examined the art, signed and dated by the artist. Benton ’43.

He looked at the painted gold and white frame, he knew Benton’s wife Rita made most of his frames, cutting wooden molding to fit a piece of art.

Then he turned it over.

The back was covered with a heavy cardboard that had turned yellow with age. Sartore also knew that Benton — and other artists — sometimes painted on both sides of a canvas, or in this case, a thin masonite panel.

Still, it was a surprise when Sartore removed the cardboard to find a second small still life — a bowl of purple grapes and a green oak leaf surrounded by a sea of swirling blue.

Cindy Lange-Kubick: Lincoln sewing group leaves lasting legacy with masks hanging on a museum wall

Tipton took a photo of the reveal.

“The surprise was all over his face.”

It was a moment, Sartore said.

“He seemed flabbergasted as well.”

Both paintings were created with egg tempura. A quick-drying medium comprised of egg yolk mixed with powdered paint, Sartore said.

The painting that Benton chose to display was a study for a larger work entitled “Still Life with Red Rose.” The hidden work appears to stand on its own.

In the months since the discovery, the two-sided painting has been sent to an art conservator to be cleaned. Tipton and Sartore opted to leave the hidden painting as it appeared when they uncovered it — the edges of the paint rubbed away from contact with the cardboard backing.

Sartore is marketing the painting to collectors and museums with an asking price of $75,000.

Benton’s masterworks are valued in the millions. In fact, Benton’s painting “Butterfly Chaser” is hanging in Kiechel Fine Art in Lincoln today, valued at more than $5 million.

This small lost study will certainly make its way into a catalog of Benton’s works and the story behind it — its details lost over the years — is a good one, Sartore said.

The curator wasn’t sure if Benton often donated art to raffles — political or otherwise.

“There were other instances of him selling pieces for next to nothing to friends and dinner guests,” Sartore said. “So he did seem to be generous with his work.”

Much to the delight of Aunt Nyla and her surprised heirs.

Cindy Lange-Kubick: ‘She’s like a mom to all of us now. She’s taken this sorrowful thing in her life and turned it into a gift for others’
Cindy Lange-Kubick: Ripping off the masks and what comes after

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln Southeast’s Ally Keitges (left) and Caroline Miller celebrate a point against Lincoln Southwest’s Grace Bartolome and Ella Dean in the No. 1 Doubles match on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Woods Tennis Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Ruth Sorilla, a canvasser with the South of Downtown Community Development Organization, hands out stickers to encourage voters at the group’s party at the polls on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the F Street Community Center. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Columbus baseball players celebrate the win during the A-3 district final, Monday, May 10, 2021, at Den Hartog Field. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Columbus baserunner Samuel Kwapnioski (9) gets tagged out by Lincoln East pitcher Ryan Clementi (6) attempting to score from third on a wild pitch in the first inning on Saturday, May 8, 2021, during the A-3 district baseball game at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Quad 4 Roller Sports instructor Bryce Pearson (left) helps student Sean Siedhoff of Lincoln with a skating move on Saturday, May 8, 2021, during a weekly lesson at the Lincoln Sports Foundation. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln Northeast first baseman Tristan Brandt (left) leaps for an errant throw as Bellevue East batter Brett Barton (8) reaches base safely on Friday, May 7, 2021, during the A-3 district baseball game at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln East’s Lillie Shaw (22) is held by Elkhorn South’s Lillian Hulsey as she goes for the ball in the first half on Thursday, May 6, 2021, during the A-3 girls district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln, a two-year-old pure bred German Shepherd, gives a water-soaked high-five to owner Sydney Otto, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, before she throws a rubber toy into the water on Thursday, May 6, 2021, during a wonderfully warm day at Holmes Lake Park. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln North Star’s Bodie Duffy hits the ball, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Holmes Golf Course. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

A bicyclist heads down a shaded Rock Island Trail on Thursday, May 6, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Papillion-La Vista South goalkeeper Andrew Streeter (bottom) goes for the ball at the feet of Lincoln Southwest’s Carter Novosad (9) and Titans teammate Peyton Hylok (top left) in the first half on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, during the A-1 boys district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Randy Santel finishes his cookies and ice cream for the food challenge, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at the Warm Cookie. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

A sign with tips about encountering coyotes greets park users on a trail east of Lincoln East High School on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at Woods Park. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Bill Ganzel (left) and his father Dwight Ganzel pose for a photo with a red heart pillow, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Bill and Dwight had open heart surgery 23 years apart, and the father gave the son his red heart pillow after Bill didn’t receive it from the hospital. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln City Council incumbent Sandra Washington (right) hugs Kate Heltzel as fellow incumbent Bennie Shobe looks on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the Democrats party at Tavern on the Square. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Tucker the dog prowls the voting booths set up for the Lincoln city general election at Frontier Harley-Davidson, where his owner works, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Red Team quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) throws a pass as Huskers head coach Scott Frost looks on Saturday, May 1, 2021, during the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

FRANCIS GARDLER

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Nebraska football fans fill the stadium for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic as the Huskers hosts a team scrimmage during the Red-White Spring game on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Omaha natives Samar Willits (left) and Zeina Renno celebrate as they near the finish line after completing a half marathon during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday, May 2, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Reach the writer at 402-473-7218 or clangekubick@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @TheRealCLK

0 Comments

Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily.

View Source

Filed Under: NEBRASKA

Primary Sidebar

More to See

a-roller-coaster-with-a-cult-following-is-coming-back-to-worlds-of-fun

A roller coaster with a cult following is coming back to Worlds of Fun

Next year Worlds of Fun will reach fifty years of business, and to celebrate it is bringing back one of its most legendary roller coasters: the Zambezi Zinger. At the time of Worlds of Fun’s opening … [Read More...] about A roller coaster with a cult following is coming back to Worlds of Fun

the-arabia-steamboat-museum-finally-seems-ready-to-shove-off-from-the-river-market

The Arabia Steamboat Museum finally seems ready to shove off from the River Market

Standing in the same location since 1857, the City Market is nearly as old as Kansas City itself. In the 1850s, over three hundred steamboats traveled on the Missouri River—including the Arabia before … [Read More...] about The Arabia Steamboat Museum finally seems ready to shove off from the River Market

tedxkc-is-friday,-lineup-includes-an-exciting-mix-of-topics

TEDxKC is Friday, lineup includes an exciting mix of topics

At 6 p.m. this Friday at the Kauffman Center, TEDxKC will have a lineup of ten speakers whose expertise range from a sky full of stars to the key to happiness to a MacArthur Genius. The theme is … [Read More...] about TEDxKC is Friday, lineup includes an exciting mix of topics

tyler-shane’s-beautiful-bonbons-have-a-deeper-meaning

Tyler Shane’s beautiful bonbons have a deeper meaning

Mesoamericans called it food of the gods. From central Mexico down to Honduras, where the cacao tree grows native, ancient Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs would gather the oblong fruit and break open its … [Read More...] about Tyler Shane’s beautiful bonbons have a deeper meaning

review:-brookside-restaurants-brady-&-fox-and-earl’s-premier-bring-homestyle-cooking-from-opposite-sides-of-the-atlantic

Review: Brookside restaurants Brady & Fox and Earl’s Premier bring homestyle cooking from opposite sides of the Atlantic

The definition of “comfort food” tends to vary depending on who you ask. At two new Brookside restaurants, Brady & Fox and Earl’s Premier, the term applies both to time-honored Irish recipes and East … [Read More...] about Review: Brookside restaurants Brady & Fox and Earl’s Premier bring homestyle cooking from opposite sides of the Atlantic

Footer

WELCOME!

Thanks for visiting Lost Prairie Press!

We hope you’ll enjoy news and perspective from the Midwest – specifically, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri.

About/Contact

Privacy Policy

Recent

  • A roller coaster with a cult following is coming back to Worlds of Fun
  • The Arabia Steamboat Museum finally seems ready to shove off from the River Market
  • TEDxKC is Friday, lineup includes an exciting mix of topics

Search

Copyright © 2022 · Lost Prairie Press