Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) Inducted - Monday, April 15, 1985 Sculptor: William J. Williams Where is Thomas Hart Benton in the Hall of Famous Missourians? Thomas Hart Benton was one of the leaders of the regionalist movement in the world of art. He received international renown as a painter, muralist, and printmaker. Famous for his dramatic paintings of the American scene, Benton is best known for his panorama of Missouri history found in the lounge of the Missouri House of Representatives and his Truman Library mural depicting the role of Independence, Missouri in the opening of the West. The figures in Benton’s works often appear cartoon-like through the way he distorts the bone and muscular structure of their faces. He was also an outspoken champion on behalf of American art.