The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will examine and digitally photograph 13 full-scale drawings, known as cartoons, created by Diego Rivera in his preparation for painting the DIA's internationally renowned Detroit Industry murals. The drawings have not been looked at in more than 30 years, and have never been digitally photographed. The project will take place from July 22 to Aug. 2 and is made possible by a grant from Bank of America's Art Conservation Project. The grant will also fund any necessary conservation work on the delicate drawings. Check out the photos below!
Due to their fragility and size, the cartoons cannot be loaned to other museums and were last on view in the 1986 exhibition Diego Rivera: A Retrospective. When not on display, the drawings are housed in a climate-controlled custom storage space in the museum.
Diego M. Rivera, Mexican, 1886-1957; Cartoon of Pharmaceutics (Detroit Industry south wall), 1932, charcoal. Gift of the artist (33.37).
Diego M. Rivera, Mexican, 1886-1957; Cartoon of Infant in the Bulb of a Plant (Detroit Industry east wall), 1932, charcoal with brown pigment over light charcoal. Gift of the artist (33.35).
Diego M. Rivera, Mexican, 1886-1957; Cartoon of Figure Representing the Black Race (Second Version) (Detroit Industry south wall), 1932, brown and red pigment with charcoal, over light charcoal. Gift of the artist (33.38).
Diego M. Rivera, Mexican, 1886-1957; Cartoon of Vaccination (Detroit Industry north wall), 1932, charcoal with red pigment over light charcoal. Gift of the artist (33.41).
Diego M. Rivera, Mexican, 1886-1957; Cartoon of Manufacture of Poisonous Gas Bombs (Detroit Industry north wall), 1932, charcoal. Gift of the artist (33.36).
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