Diego Rivera: A Pioneer of Mexican Muralism
Early Life and Training
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez, known as
Diego Rivera, was a prominent Mexican painter born on December 8, 1886, in Guanajuato, Mexico. His large frescoes helped establish the Mexican mural movement in Mexican art.
Artistic Career
Rivera's artistic journey began at the age of three, and he later studied art at the
Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City. He was sponsored to continue his studies in Europe by Teodoro A. Dehesa Méndez, the governor of the State of Veracruz. In 1907, Rivera arrived in Europe, initially studying with Eduardo Chicharro in Madrid, Spain, and later moving to Paris, France, where he became part of the Montparnasse artistic community.
Notable Works and Contributions
- Creation (1922), his first significant mural, painted in encaustic at the Bolívar Auditorium of the National Preparatory School in Mexico City.
- Dreams of a Sunday in the Alameda, which sparked controversy due to its depiction of atheism.
- His murals at the Secretariat of Public Education in Mexico City, begun in September 1922, showcasing his unique native style with large, simplified figures and bold colors influenced by Aztec art.
Personal Life and Later Years
Rivera's tumultuous marriage to
Frida Kahlo, a fellow Mexican artist, is well-documented. He died on November 24, 1957.
View more of Diego Rivera's artworks on WahooArt:
Explore more artists and their contributions to art history on WahooArt: