A protracted five-year legal dispute between the heirs of renowned American scene painter Thomas Hart Benton and UMB Bank has concluded with a Missouri court ruling in favor of the financial institution. The Benton family had accused the Kansas City-based bank of mismanaging the artist’s estate, underselling his artworks, and losing over 100 pieces, but their claims were largely dismissed.
Judge Mark Styles determined that UMB Bank fulfilled its fiduciary duties to Benton’s estate, which the artist entrusted to the institution before he died in 1975. While the Benton heirs alleged that the bank had mishandled more than 100 works, the court found that only five pieces were unaccounted for, and these were minor sketches or studies, not paintings. The ruling was first reported by KCUR-FM.
“From the beginning, we stood firm in our belief that Crosby Kemper and the UMB associates who worked on this Trust for over 40 years acted with integrity and in the best interests of the Trust,” said Amy Harris, chief legal officer of UMB Financial Corporation, in a statement.
The Benton family, led by his daughter Jessie Benton, had sought $85 million in damages, arguing that UMB sold artworks at undervalued prices without proper appraisal or their consent, and violated copyright and licensing agreements related to Benton’s works. However, the court awarded the family just $35,000, a fraction of their original demand. The family’s attorney, Kent Emison, indicated they are considering an appeal. “Despite the decision from this trial, we still strongly believe in the merits of the case for the Benton family,” he stated.
Thomas Hart Benton, born in 1889, was a pivotal figure in the American Regionalism art movement of the 1930s and 1940s, alongside artists like Grant Wood. Known for his dynamic and exaggerated style, Benton often depicted the industrialization of the Midwest and South, exploring themes of labor and American entertainment. He created more than 3,500 works during his lifetime, many of which were murals commissioned by universities, corporations, and the U.S. government. His student, Jackson Pollock, even modeled for some of his murals portraying heroic laborers.
Following Benton’s death, all his works and intellectual property were placed in the Benton Trust, managed by UMB Bank. The family’s lawsuit argued that the bank failed to uphold its responsibilities to preserve and enhance Benton’s legacy. However, Judge Styles concluded that the evidence showed otherwise. “UMB was tasked by Benton to help grow and establish his legacy as a world-renowned artist after his death,” he wrote in the verdict. “The evidence established UMB accomplished Benton’s wishes and desires.”
While the court’s decision brings some closure to the legal dispute, it highlights ongoing tensions between artists' estates and the institutions entrusted to manage their legacies. The Benton family’s consideration of an appeal suggests that the debate over how best to honor and protect an artist’s contributions is far from resolved.
Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
