If you’ve ever visited Missouri’s capitol in Jefferson City, you’ve most likely encountered the work of artist Thomas Hart Benton. His vivid portrayal of the state’s history is encapsulated in the mural “A Social History of the State of Missouri,” which covers the walls of the House Lounge.
The mural and its creation are profiled in the documentary “Tom Benton’s Missouri,” which has been remastered in a high-definition format. The film is screening this month for its 20th anniversary, including showings on the University of Missouri’s four campuses. It will be screened at 2 p.m. Oct. 31 in Gallery 210 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. On hand to discus the film will be co-director James J. Bogan Jr., emeritus Curators’ Teaching Professor of Art History and Film at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.
The screening is free and open to the public.
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The restored film features an enhanced soundtrack and color refinements that bring the colors into congruence with the original tempera of the mural. The University of Missouri System helped fund the restoration.