Painters

Former President Harry S. Truman (left) and artist Thomas Hart Benton on scaffolding at the Harry S. Truman Library. Mr. Truman paints a bit on Mr. Benton's mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" in the lobby of the Truman Library.

Former President Harry S. Truman (left) and Thomas Hart Benton standing in the doorway in the center of Benton's mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West" in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library.

Painters at work in the Harry S. Truman Library.

President Truman is posing for artist Kyril Vassilev on a porch of the Little White House in Key West, Florida.

Thomas Hart Benton addressing the gathering at the dedication of the mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West." At left, Eugene Savage, Rita Benton, former president Harry S. Truman, David D. Lloyd, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Wayne Grover, archivist of the United States, and Bess Wallace Truman seated.

Former President Harry S. Truman (left) and Thomas Hart Benton pose for the press before the dedication of the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library.

Former President Harry S. Truman painting a small portion of the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. Artist Thomas Hart Benton is looking on.

Former President Harry S. Truman and Thomas Hart Benton on scaffolding, posing for photographers. Benton is painting the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

Former President Harry S. Truman climbing the scaffolding to chat with artist Thomas Hart Benton and get a closer look at his mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West" in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

Thomas Hart Benton painting the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. The mural is partly sketched out on the wall, and Benton is on scaffolding working on the upper right corner.