Circle Auction is proud to announce the sale of an exceptional collection of works by the legendary American artist Thomas Hart Benton, previously owned by fellow artist and friend, Vincent Campanella. This significant collection, amassed by Campanella, includes a variety of Benton's drawings, watercolors, and paintings, and is set to be auctioned on December 2, 2023. Thomas Hart Benton "Study for Wyoming Hay" Oil on Board (1963-64) The collection, comprising 113 items, represents a comprehensive exploration of Benton's artistic journey. According to Benton author and scholar Dr. Henry Adams, "This collection of works by Thomas Hart Benton, assembled by Vincent Campanella, is the single largest collection of Benton drawings and studies outside of the Benton Trust." Adams spent weeks cataloging and researching these works in 2007, notes the collection's unparalleled record of Benton’s evolution in style and subject matter. Left image: Thomas Hart Benton "Study for Trail Riders" Graphite (ca. 1964-65)Right image: Thomas Hart Benton "Mountain Pool" Ink & Watercolor (ca. 1963) This extraordinary assemblage came into Campanella's possession under unique circumstances. Following Benton’s passing in 1975, Campanella, who had a deep artistic and personal connection with Benton, completed a mural Benton had begun for Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame. It is believed that some of these works were gifted to Campanella by Rita Benton, in appreciation for his contributions. Left image: Thomas Hart Benton "New York Rooftops" Watercolor (ca. 1918-20)Right image: Thomas Hart Benton "Boy with Cap" Oil (ca. 1940) Highlights of the collection include "Character Study of an Old Woman" (Oil, 1926) and "Study For Wyoming Hay" (Oil On Board, 1963). These pieces, along with others in the collection, showcase Benton's diverse subjects – from rural landscapes and farming scenes to figure studies and circus scenes – providing a unique insight into his working process. Left image: Thomas Hart Benton "Train Hauling Logs" Graphite (1928)Right image: Thomas Hart Benton "Flower Studies" Graphite (ca. 1963) Many of the sketches in the collection are studies Benton made in preparation for notable murals or paintings; the final versions now hang in museums, institutions, and private collections around the country. Graphite sketches in…