Amazon.com

In another life, before becoming one of the best known and most popular journalists in New York and the author of the bestselling memoir A Drinking Life, Pete Hamill studied art on the GI Bill in Mexico City. Upon seeing the monumental work of José Clemente Orozco, however, he abruptly lost his nerve: "It seemed an act of self-delusion to try to be a painter."

After 44 years, Hamill has found a way to integrate his early affair with art, his lifelong love of Mexico, and his narrative gifts in this riveting and lushly illustrated book on Diego Rivera, Mexico's best-known, widely loved muralist. Hamill's text, he says, was completed before the publication of Patrick Marnham's Dreaming with His Eyes Open: A Life of Diego Rivera. This one is less scholarly but respectably researched, and Hamill's fervent opinions on which of Rivera's works are worthy and which are the sad effluvia of a Communist Party hack are remarkably persuasive. Hamill's esthetic judgment has led him to avoid reproducing any second-rate clunkers. He has chosen the great murals, paintings, and drawings that suit the godlike stature of this outsize artist who lied, cheated, womanized, and evaded responsibility his entire life, but who worked like a demon in the service of his art.

Rivera's shabby genteel childhood; his flight to France during the 10-year Mexican Revolution, during which nearly a tenth of his countrymen died; his callous abandonment of his first wife; his ugly political gambits and high-flown society contacts; his ultimately sad relationships with both men and women--Hamill weaves it all into a fantastic read. The book is not as balanced as Dreaming with His Eyes Open, but is nonetheless a passionate first look at an artist whose complicated life will probably still be examined decades from now. --Peggy Moorman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The life and the art. First rate!
Prior to reading Hamill's bio of Rivera I had read some of another, published the same year. I'm not sure why I was so cool to the book or why it left me irritated. But that would have been the end of my investigation of Rivera's life if I hadn't come across Hamill's book by accident.
I read a couple of pages and was hooked. Hamill is known to me as a fine journalist, editor and novelist but an art biographer? Yes! Yes! This book is a pleasure to read. The prose is clear, clean and engaging, yet it packs a lot of information. And what's the point of writing about a major painter and not printing any of his work? This book is filled with glorious, excellent color reproductions covering Rivera's entire life work. Hamill is not afraid to offer judgments but I thought they were fair and relevant. This is a solid piece of work. As a young man Hamill wanted to be a painter and went to Mexico City to study. He later lived in the city as a journalist. So there are many years of the love of Mexico and art behind this book.
If you want to know more about the Mexican revolution, the art scene in Paris around the years of WWI (Rivera accused Picasso of stealing ideas from him) how Mexico nurtured and esteemed its artists, and much more, read this book.

Coffee Table Material
If you admire Rivera, buy this book. It sits on our coffee table and is very alluring. It makes a great gift for any fan of this extraordinary artist.

Submitted by the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life."

Blends both the highs and lows in his struggle
Unforgettable reading, Diego Rivera is a vivid, emotionally written biography of the famous Mexican artist, mural painter, and Communist activist Diego Rivera (1886-1957). Biographer Pete Hamill narration of Rivera's remarkable life is enhanced with Rivera's great works of art both in full color replications and through black-and-white photographs. With an informed and informative text more heavily weighted toward relating Rivera's life story than simply being a showcase of Rivera's great murals, Diego Rivera blends both the highs and lows in his struggle through life for meaning against a background of turbulent politics, as well as the overwhelming messages of his art.

A Political/Social/Artistic Biography of Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera, the man, is not nearly as well known as Diego Rivera, the magnificant muralist. Pete Hamill's biography will change all that. I have been a fan of Hamill's journalistic writing since 1970, so I was surprised at first when I saw that he had authored this book. Then I learned in the introduction that Hamill had studied painting in Mexico City as a young man, before giving it up for writing. So he has a unique perspective to share with us.

Diego Rivera's art soars above his own life. He was very self-centered and almost always did what was best for him and his art career. To cover up for his lapses, he loved to tell stories to make himself seem very grand. For example, although he was out of Mexico for almost the entire 10 years of the Revolution (where 10 percent of the population died), he claimed to have fought in it.

Perhaps his least desirable quality was the way he treated women. It seems like he was attracted to hurting those he loved, and was always looking for the newest conquest. Although he was a physically unattractive man for most of his life (usually weighing over 300 pounds), he had a series of beautiful women as his wives and lovers, including famous motion picture actresses.

He was an important man in the Mexican Communist party, and later brought Trotsky to Mexico. Later, the shifts in doctrine involving Stalin led Rivera to be ousted from the party. No idealogue, he paid attention to the party about as well as he did to his wives. Yet near the end of his life, he begged his way back into the party.

Throughout his Communistic associations, he was delighted to work for wealthy capitalists . . . another indication that his career came first.

Near his death, he resumed his original Catholic faith, amazing almost everyone who knew him.

Although we think of him as the ultimate Mexican artist, he was classically trained in the Spanish style in Mexico and spent almost all of his early career in Europe. It was only the ending of the Revolution and the prospect of large mural commissions that lured him and other leading Mexican artists back to Mexico. Like the other artists, he had to learn how to paint murals.

Throughout the book, you will find your main reward -- gorgeous color reproductions of Rivera's most vivid work, along with beautiful black and white sketches, and photographs of Rivera at work and play.

The book's main weakness is that Hamill is no art historian. His discussions of the art are short and unimaginative. But he has strong opinions and does tell you what he likes (that which is reproduced -- new themes, new symbols and relatively less finished details) and that which he does not (that which is not reproduced here and Rivera's developments of earlier themes). So you will have to look at the work and figure out what you think about it without too much help from Hamill beyond describing the imagery. I especially encourage you to consider Rivera's cubist works. The book makes an interesting case for Picasso having lifted key ideas for some of his best work from Rivera.

Hamill does a fine job of giving a sense of the relentless pressure for revolution, the early optimism about the Revolution, and the descent into business as usual. I enjoyed learning more about the Mexican Revolution, as a result.

I was also glad to learn where Rivera's murals are so that I can see them in person. That's a great reason to visit Mexico!

Overcome your stalled thinking that great work makes a great person. Creating a good person may be more difficult than making great art. What do you think?

A GENIUS'S STORY, WARTS AND ALL
Diego Rivera was a Communist, a lout, self-indulgent, slovenly, obese, greedy, an apostate, at times lazy, at other times driven and possessed, a bounder, a satyr, ingratiating, and, above all, a genius. There is no writer more equipped than the eminent Pete Hamill, student of art, diviner of human folly, to take us on this magnificent journey, separating glorious art from the invincible frailties of humans. It is a book that will live on, long into the 21st century. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Mexico in the early 1920s, a growing, collective social consciousness gave rise to a revolutionary furor focused on liberating the country's workers from harsh conditions and poverty. In 1921, Mexican artists Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros were all commissioned by the government to create educational paintings on the walls of public buildings. After that initial experience, they devoted themselves almost exclusively to painting these large-scale murals--forming the foundation of a movement that would last 50 years. The muralists' work took up the themes of society and revolution. Often the paintings depicted historical vignettes like the story of Cuernavaca and Morelos crossing the barranca, or Mexico's ancient Indians. They satirized contemporary society, created ideal visions of peaceful families, and built up dark, imposing industrial cityscapes then leveled them by depicting the debauchery and death of the capitalist industrialists.

The paintings themselves reflect diverse artistic influences--surrealism, cubism, and illustration, most notable among them.Their bold colors and strong imagery practically bound out of the 150 color plates in this book. Mexican muralist and scholar Desmond Rochfort lucidly traces the development of the movement to place the work in context and provides a solid history of each of the artists' social and artistic influences. This is an excellent overview of work that should appeal both to fans of the individual artists and Mexican art in general. --Jordana Moskowitz ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I OWN!!
This is definitely one of the best books out there for anyone interested in Mexican art. Few books can inspire as much as this one, especially for people from Zapotlanejo, Jalisco. It's loaded with many pictures and chronicles the lives of these three muralistas and has in depth coverage of specific murals, i especially enjoyed the coverage on "History of Mexico" mural by Diego Rivera. This book is definitely worth the price and a great addition to any collection. Orale!

A Masterpiece!!
Rarely have I been as moved and inspired by an art book.

The work of Orozco, Diego and Siqueiros is required study for art students and art enthusiasts.

Thank you Dr. Rochfort for presenting their magnificent work within your brilliant historical analysis.

best outlook on the murilists of mexico and their beliefs
Shows a great variety of each artists pieces and movements through out their career.

very informative
outstanding full of historical views ... Read more

Book Description

Revolutionary and troublemaker Diego Rivera (1886-1957) pioneered public art - particularly with his magnificent murals - that was both highly advanced and profoundly accessible. His tumultuous career is surveyed in this richly illustrated Spanish-language entry in the Basic Art series celebrating major artists. This enticing collection shows both the wide range of his art and its influence on other painters and artistic movements. ... Read more

Book Description

A richly revealing document offering many telling insights into the mind and heart of a giant of 20th-century art. "Engrossing as a novel... throws a clear white light on one of the most spectacular artists of our time"—Chicago Sunday Tribune. "There is no lack of exciting material. A lover at nine, a cannibal at eighteen, by his own account, Rivera was prodigiously productive of art and controversy in his 70 years of life."—San Francisco Chronicle. 21 halftones. Index. Appendix.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fact and Fiction
This book is a mixture of fact and fantasy, the real real and imagined world as conjured by the mind of Diego Rivera as told to Gladys March. The invention of facts, the fabrication of the bits of truth to create a colorful story are the result of a newspaper interview that flourished into a series of interviews over many years. Beginning in 1944 and continuing until his death in 1957 Gladys March spent several months each year collecting over 2000 pages of notes that eventually formed the basis of this book. As another customer reviewer stated this is not the place to start when you reading about the life of Rivera since the lines between fact and fiction are blurred at best. A more accurate picture can be found in "dreaming With His Eyes Open" by Patrick Marnham. If you have a foundation in the life and times of one of the great Mexican artists than this book reflects a colorful and imaginative mind. The brillance of his art aside Diego reveals himself and makes no excuses for the parts of his pesonality that are less than desireable. He talks about his experiment in cannanbilsm, witchcraft, his blaphemous treatment of religion and the church, the communist party, his relationships with world leaders, artists and women, his advetures in Europe, the United States and Mexico, his troubles and ills , including his bout with cancer of the penis and in general the things that made his life as large as his physical presence. A very entertaining book that is easy to read because each small chapter deals with an extensive period of his life. All in all this is a good book to compliment other books on Rivera to get an even more accurate but distorted view of his brilliance. Included are several pictures and paintings from throughout his life. The man , the myth and the artist are here for you to decipher the truth and paint your own picture.

Strictly Fantasy
If you have not yet read anything about the life of Diego Rivera, don't start with this book. While Rivera's re-imagining of his life is riveting, it is merely one more tall tale. Rivera is known for many talents, however, sticking to the truth is not one of them.

If you already have a solid background in the artists life, then by all means read this book to get a sharper insight into his mental inner-workings! ... Read more

Book Description

A celebration of a renowned artist and political activist.

Diego Rivera, in a career that spanned sixty years, produced some of the most distinctive and socially powerful works in modern art. Rivera was very much a twentieth-century renaissance man. He was a painter, printmaker, sculptor, book illustrator, one of the first collectors of pre-Columbian art, as well as a political activist. In both the United States and Mexico, Rivera's monumental frescos gave life to revolutionary themes, often offending the critics as well as the public. In New York's Rockefeller Center, for instance, his murals were destroyed because of public outrage over their strongly pro-communist content. This volume illustrates Rivera's life and work from his early years at the Mexican Academy of San Carlos and studies in Spain; his subsequent eleven-year sojourn in Paris in the first part of this century; to his efforts to establish a truly national Mexican style in the murals for which he is most famous. Accompanying Rivera's work are essays by noted scholars reevaluating his place in the history of modern art. 200 color plates, 325 black-and-white illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Diego
Long out of print, this book has never been surpassed as "the complete Rivera." This volume illustrates Diego Rivera's life and work, from his early years at the Mexican Academy of San Carlos and studies in Spain; his subsequent eleven-year sojourn in Paris in the first part of this century; to his efforts to establish a truly national Mexican style in the murals for which he is most famous. Illustrations of Rivera's work are accompanied by essays by noted scholars who reevaluate his place in the history of modern art. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What confidence and ambition it requires to approach a biography of Diego Rivera, the larger-than-life Mexican muralist who in recent years has been reduced, in some circles, to being known as Frida Kahlo's evil husband. The myths and mysteries begin at his birth, in 1884. His mother seemed to die just after Diego, a firstborn twin, emerged, and her body was laid out for burial, until an old servant insisted she was still breathing. She recovered fully (Diego's twin died at age 2). This macabre event was but the first in a fabulously eventful life.

Under the brutal regime of the dictator Porfirio Díaz, whose legacy included human slavery on an unprecedented scale, Mexico City became "The Paris of the Americas," with imperial palaces, European music, and decorations by artists who had studied under Ingres. "It was in this exuberant, chaotic, and occasionally dangerous world that Diego Rivera grew up," writes Patrick Marnham, who casts a spell of such strangeness, beauty, and black humor that the reader is utterly hooked by the end of the first few pages. Marnham repeats and analyses all the fables Rivera spun about himself and his family; he describes Rivera's enchantment with Italian fresco cycles and his friendship and rivalry with Picasso in Montmartre in the 1920s; he reports Rivera's countless amorous conquests; and he presents the supposedly feminist view of Rivera as a monster of appetite, arrogance, and authority. Marnham also does an excellent job of picking apart the personal, political, and artistic threads of the disastrous brouhaha over Rivera's Rockefeller Center murals. In prose that is poetically rich and frequently tinged with not-so-gentle irony, he has written a thoroughly believable book about an all but unbelievable life. --Peggy Moorman ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Author Has Better Understanding of History than People
I am surprised that other readers enjoyed this book, especially readers who like Rivera. I had the distinct impression that the author, Patrick Marnham, did not like Rivera. Rivera's larger than life personality can probably not be claimed to be understood by many people, and perhaps Marnham's total want of understanding is the source for his dislike.

While this could be one of several books to read about Diego Rivera it should not be relied heavily upon. Marnham does not seem to approve of many of the characters he writes about in this book . I don't think he has an appreciation for colorful people. I felt he was a very supressed and uptight person writing about some very free spirits.

A biography of Rivera seemed a poor subject choice for him. Perhaps being an art critic would be a better suited undertaking for him. Or maybe since his grasp of history seems good his temperment would be better suited to writing dry fact based history than attempting to discern the subtlties of the human character.

He made several assertions that he represented as fact. One that springs to mind was that Frida Kahlo commited suicide. While that May be true, it also may not be true.

Marnham collected information about Diego Rivera, where he went, when he went , etc, but gave no real sense of warmth of Diego Rivera. Since Rivera was a man of such great passion it was disappointing to have only a two dimensional portrait of him drawn. I felt I knew alot more of Marnham's personality after reading this book than of Rivera's. But touché I felt much the same about Marnham as he did Rivera, I didn't like him much.

Great Biography of a Flawed but Great Artist
Diego Rivera was born in the magical city of Guanajuato. This fact alone made me pick up this book and then buy it. I visited Guanajuato in 2002 and fell in love with the twisty roads, the Baroque facades of the Templos and the Basilica, the Easter-egg colored houses and the general feeling that one had been dropped down in a 18th Century Spanish town. Rivera left it with his mother at the age of six, but the city of his birth, with its recent mummies and Day of the Dead festivals left its mark on him.

Rivera lived in Mexico City until 1907, when he left for Spain and for the next 15 years lived there and in France. He picked up a common-law wife and then a lover- a portent of things to come. He met and was friends (or sometimes enemies) with some of the greatest artists of the period, including Picasso, Mondrian, Modigliani and Matisse. He worked in classic style until he accepted Cubism, only to move toward Cezanne-style art, and eventually to develop his own style. He eventually became one of the greatest of modern fresco painters. However, his character was far from flawless. He lied about his past often and in different ways, depending on the situation, was not very careful about personal hygiene, and also often ran away from relationships to avoid unpleasant realities.

Rivera joined the Mexican Communist Party (MCP) in 1922. After three failures at having a permanent relationship with a woman, he married the rather obsessional young Communist Frida Kahlo (who was twenty years his junior) in 1929. In that same year he was expelled from the MCP because of various internal party intrigues. He then became friends with the exiled Leon Trotsky, who repaid him by having a short affair with Frida. Frida, to make matters more complicated, was repaying Rivera for his affair with her sister. Because of his association with Trotsky, Rivera was not readmitted to the party again until 1954, after the death of Stalin. This summery only touches on and can hardly do justice to the complicated world of Diego Rivera, one of the most complex of men.

Patrick Marnham presents in this book the convoluted ins and outs of Rivera's life, his many affairs and his association with the art world and the Communist Party in vivid detail.

This is a fascinating study of this very complex and often selfish man who was also a great artist. It is also a window into a very confusing and turbulent time in the history of the World. It is a work that should be read by all interested in understanding this period and the modern world that rose from it.

The many loves of Rivera
With various books written on the life of Diego Rivera this one is a must have. Anytime a subject is studied, it this case the life of arguably the greatest Mexican muralist, it is worthwhile to have various perspectives before coming to one's own conclusion. In that regard this book is invaluable as the author doesn't give you a softball and is quick to point out the inconsistencies in other versions of the larger than life Diego Rivera's exploits, including his own autobiography. The book itself is a fascinating portrait into the life of the celebrated Mexican muralist's life, beginning with the unusual circumstnances of his youth, his sojourn to Europe and studying art in France, his mingling in the bohemian lfestyle with various artists and intellectuals of his era, including his at times not so friendly rivalry with Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, his return to Mexico, his politics(communist) and the troubles he had since he usually mixed art and politics, his many, many love affairs, his multiple marriages including several to soul mate Frida Kahlo, his association with Trotsky(and his wife), his work in the United States and his later years in Mexico where he remained productive in spite of failing health. It is all here, both the believable and the unbelieveable, meshing together for a fascinating look at a man that could literally charm the pants off of the most beautiful women of the world. Included are two seperate groups of pictures that include rarely seen vintage photographs and color prints of his most famous works. Every now and then I read a book that I want to savor and take my time. Like a special meal or an intimate moment, this book was one that I wanted to savor once I began. I wanted to make it last because it was so enjoyable, knowing that the inevitable consequence of my reading would make it end I almost regretted finishing the book. I took days to read the final chapters in the hope that somehow the experience would not end. I would highly recommend this book to those that are interested in Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Mexican art or history. It is a book that paints more than a picture, it is more like a grand mural that captures the fantastic life of Diego Rivera. This is a highly enjoyable book and an indispensable aid in understanding the complex makeup of one of the true giants of art in the twentieth century.

An Outstanding Biography of the World's Greatest Muralist
Diego Rivera was a larger than life character both socially and physically. His life was a facinating one and worthy of such a fantastic biography. It doesn't matter much if you are familiar with Rivera's work or not, if you enjoy biography and history you'll soon realize what an amazing life Diego Rivera led. Rivera was born at the right time in a unique culture for art- He had a Forest Gump type of life in the early 1900's in the way he knew and interacted with almost anybody who was anybody those days. From his art contemporaries in Spain and France, including Picasso, Modigliani, and Mondrian, to Einstien, Henry Ford and his famous artist wife Frida Kahlo, his art had a way of transcending culture that drew people to him. Patrick Marnham includes many examples of this and has done extensive research into his personal life. He was a man constantly having affairs and looking to be comforted due to his upbringing.
His life also parallels much of what happened politicaly in the world throughout his life. For most of his life, Rivera was a communist supporter who thought he could inspire social and poltical change by painting political murals. Being such a contraversial artist, Rivera made enemies with the Rockefeller's in New York after painting communist portraits and imagry instead of the agreed design. He also was a supporter and friend of Trotsky, and helped to bring him to assylum in Mexico.
This book includes some fantistic color reproductions. It was wonderful to read about the details he included and then see them for myself. It also includes some great photographs of key encounters mentioned in the text.
Diego Rivera was a artist who's life paralelled the colorful culture of Mexico and the political unrest of a pre-WWII world. I couldn't have been more pleased to read this wonderful book for the insight it gave me about art, politics and culture.

Marnham on Rivera
No footnotes, inadequate bibliography, and surprisingly, almost no mistakes. He reports on time and place in a constructive way and dispels Rivera's own myths about himself humorously. Very good read. ... Read more

Book Description

Frida Kahlo's stormy relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera and how it affected her work is the subject of this fascinating study.Generously illustrated with works by both artists as well as contemporary photographs, this volume sheds new light on the life and imagery of one of the twentieth century's greatest women artists. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Errors, Typos - Poor quality - Photo selection good.
I'm baffled that a book can be published with so many typos and gross errors. Frida's name is even misspelled "Kahalo" in one place. It states her tragic accident happened on "17 December 1925" which it did not (it was September) and it says this twice. On the very next page it shows her diary entries discussing her pain from the injuries, the entries are dated October 1925 and on. I mean it's really distracting and totally unacceptable. Sentences were incomplete and you are left rereading and looking for the rest of the statement. Some of the sentences just didn't make any sense. I ended up reading with a pencil in hand to make corrections. As for the actual bio info, I agree it's interesting, but Frida and Diego were unquestionably fascinating people even in poorly written text. Thankfully I checked this out from our public library. I would NOT recommend this book to anyone. Get another bio from a different publisher. One that is reputable, responsible and does good work. I give it two stars for photo selection.

Does Life imitate Art?
This book provides better than average insight into lives of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. While people are now eagerly awaiting the Fall 2002 Selma Hayek movie on Frida, this book does provide some background into the world of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. If you are unfamilar with these artists this book would be a good place to start.

Not the best, Not the worst
The photographs include some not seen in the many other books on Kahlo, which is the primary strength of this book. However, it seems that some of the facts are drawn from the March biography of Rivera - which is at best questionable - and at worst Rivera's mythical reinterpretation of his own life. The unusual grammar and typographical errors are somewhat distracting at times. Overall, however, it provides a nice overview of the important points in the Kahlo-Rivera relationship. ... Read more

Book Description

A beautifully illustrated in-depth study of the mostimportant North American work by the best-known Mexican muralist, DiegoRivera. Early in the Depression, Diego Rivera was commissioned by EdselFord to create a series of murals in the gallery of the Detroit Instituteof Arts, giant frescos whose theme would be America's industrial might.This volume studies the astonishing results and gives us a remarkablyclose look at Diego and his wife, Frida Kahlo. Rivera's Detroit Industrymurals are one of this country's greatest treasures. In addition toproviding full coverage and analysis of the murals, this volume includeschapters on the murals' planning and antecedents, Rivera's workingmethods (which can be read as a primer on frescos), Diego and Frida'slives for their nine months in Detroit, and the public's dramaticresponse to the strong socialist/communist themes in the works. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Viva Rivera, Viva Detroit!
For anyone who has ever been fascinated with Diego Rivera and his works, this is a wonderfully detailed guide to the Detroit Industry Murals. Readible either from cover-to-cover or in chapters, this book is filled throughout with photos, historic background, interviews and amazingly interesting details to all that went into the Detroit Industry Murals. Starting with other Rivera murals located across the United States, Downs leads into the situation of Henry Ford wanting a depiction of Detroit and the auto industry for a neglected garden gallery. A chapter details the fresco process used by Rivera during this immense project, and is skippable for those not interested in art technique. Another chapter details how Rivera and his wife, artist Fridah Kahlo, spend their time in the Motor City. The especially amazing introduction tells the story of how in 1979 Detroit Institute of Art staff found in a dusty closet the original "cartoons" (full size pencil sketches) that Diego Rivera had made during the planning and layout of the murals. Downs ends the book with reactions to the finished project, which ranged from churches outrage to extreme pride for the city's auto workers, which the work most positively depicted. Because of the artist's political convictions (Mexican communist) the murals were almost destroyed during the Cold War and had to be protected under armed guard. Detroit is the last place you would expect to find the masterpiece of the Mexican muralist movement's greatest son. Just like it's topic, this book is an amazing and unexpected masterpiece. ... Read more

Book Description

A visionary painter best known for his murals, Diego Rivera explored Paris, Spain, San Francisco, New York, Moscow and his native Mexico, and counted Picasso, Cocteau, Trotsky and Rockefeller among his coterie of friends and enemies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Art and History
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Diego Rivera's life, Mexican history, American history, etc. It is a very well-written book by an eye-witness author. One of the best books I have ever read.

Diego Rivera's Tall Tales
Originally published in 1963, Bertram Wolf's bio of the Mexican artist remains an important and entertaining part of the Rivera literature to this day. A major problem, however: the present edition is a second printing of the 1990 paperback edition, and the quality of the photographic reproductions in the book is no better than a poorly printed newspaper. The illustrations in the 1963 hardcover biography were not great, but at least they were clear and legible. The beautiful typeface has been preserved as have the illustrations (by Rivera) that accompany each chapter heading and, most importantly, Wolf's rich narrative of the life and stories of Diego Rivera. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Epic Modernist
This book is an excellent resource on Diego Rivera. It contains wonderful analyzation of Rivera's influences, including the Russian and Mexican Revolutions. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Skipping Stones, published by Skipping Stones on February 1, 1996. The length of the article is 371 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Diego Andres Rivera - the famous Mexican muralist.(in Spanish and English)
Author: Andres Romo-Chavez Castellanos
Publication: Skipping Stones (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 1996
Publisher: Skipping Stones
Volume: v8Issue: n1Page: p18(1)

Article Type: Biography

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

The boldly political mural projects of Diego Rivera andotherleftist artists in San Francisco during the 1930s and early 1940s arethe focusof Anthony W. Lee's fascinating book. Led by Rivera, these painters usedmuralsas a vehicle to reject the economic and political status quo and to givevisibleform to labor and radical ideologies, including Communism. Several murals, and details of others, are reproduced here for the firsttime.Of special interest are works by Rivera that chart a progress from muralpaintings commissioned for private spaces to those produced as a publicact in apublic space: Allegory of California, painted in 1930-31 at the StockExchangeLunch Club; Making a Fresco, Showing the Building of a City, done a fewmonthslater at the California School of Fine Arts; and Pan American Unity,painted in1940 for the Golden Gate International Exposition. Labor itself became a focus of the new murals: Rivera painted a massiverepresentation of a construction worker just as San Francisco's workerswerethemselves organizing; Victor Arnautoff, Bernard Zakheim, John LangleyHoward ,and Clifford Wight painted panels in Coit Tower that acknowledged theresolve ofthe dockworkers striking on the streets below. Radical in technique aswell,these muralists used new compositional strategies of congestion,misdirection,and fragmentation, subverting the legible narratives and coherentallegories oftraditional murals. Lee relates the development of wall painting to San Francisco'sinternationalexpositions of 1915 and 1939, the new museums and art schools, corporatepatronage, and the concerns of immigrants and ethnic groups. And heexamines howmural painters struggled against those forces that threatened theirpractice:the growing acceptance of modernist easel painting, the vagaries of NewDealpatronage, and a wartime nationalism hostile to radical politics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent!
(From Planeta Journal) - For visitors to Mexico City, obligatory visits include the National Palace, Bellas Artes and the Supreme Court -- all places where one can see the work of famed muralist Diego Rivera. His work is found elsewhere, and notably San Francisco, California, where the artist inspired and infuriated a generation of painters. Painting on the Left goes beyond the work of Rivera and illuminates how public art was perceived at the beginning of the 20th century. The descriptions of the bland murals decorating the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition are priceless and likewise the authors interpretation of how artists began to depict social issues in their work. The lively narrative text is complemented with color photos and sketches. Excellent! ... Read more