February: "The Creation of Union Station Mural" at Union Station Kansas City
This image is not available for purchase
This is a tricky image to capture. The very large (30 feetx8.6 feet) mural is at the bottom of a staircase and escalator from the Grand Hall of Union Station to the basement level. That wouldn't be a problem except for the three large columns that block the view of the entire mural from the top of the stairs. I was able to use some tricks to capture and create the final image.
Some compromises had to be made in this image. The largest issue was a very strong shadow cast by the frame at the bottom. Correcting for this meant losing a small strip of the image which included the artists signature and part of the front of the center locomotive. I also spent some time cleaning the image up to remove obvious blemishes and making the lighting even on the wood frame that surrounds the painting.
by Anthony Benton Gude (b. 1963)
This giant painting depicts locomotives from all 12 railroads that served Kansas City and participated as owners in the construction of Union Station in 1914. Union Station is visible in the background, and Union Station architect Jarvis Hunt can be seen overlooking his masterpiece from the engine's steam.
Union Station Kansas City is the second largest train station still standing in the United States. Only Grand Central Terminal in New York City is more massive.
More information on the history of regional railroads can be found in Untion Station's exhibit, The KC Rail Experience. You may also enjoy our train overlook in Science City, one of the best and most active rail spotting roosts in the country.
The Benton Family
Anthony Benton Gude, the grandson of famous Kansas City artist Thomas Hart Benton, was educated at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Art Students League in New York City.
Gude uses the Venetian technique of oil painting, which employs a monochromatic under-painting to develop form and composition before the color is painted on.
Gude lives and works on the Benton family farm in Frankfort, Kansas. Other Gude murals and paintings in the region can be seen at Benedictine College (Atchison), Marriott Hotel (Kansas City) and the Westar Energy Building (Topeka).
Kansas City's Hometown Railroad
This painting was commissioned and donated to Union Station by the Board of Directors of Kansas City Southern Railway in honor of the company's chairman, president and CEO, Michael R. Haverty.
The board recognized Haverty's leadership on Kansas City Southern's completion of its NAFTA Railway from Kansas City to Mexico City. This fulfilled a dream of Arthur Stillwell, who founded Kansas City Southern's predecessor company in 1887.
On May 4, 2006, The Creation of Union Station was presented to Union Station Kansas City by the outside directors of Kansas City Southern: Michael Fitt, Tom McDonnell, James Jones, Rodney Slater, Ed Allinson, Bob Druten and Karen Pletz.
THE CREATION OF UNION STATION Oil on Canvas (Venetian technique) 362" x 104" Commissioned and Donated by: the Kansas City Southern Board of Directors, in honor of Michael R. Haverty, May 4, 2006
This 30ft wide mural is at the bottom of a flight of stairs and an escalator and the view is also blocked by three large columns. There is one good spot to get the entire painting in one exposure.
This 30ft wide mural is at the bottom of a flight of stairs and an escalator and the view is also blocked by three large columns. There is one good spot to get the entire painting in one exposure.
This 30ft wide mural is at the bottom of a flight of stairs and an escalator and the view is also blocked by three large columns. There is one good spot to get the entire painting in one exposure.