Diego Rivera Murals: The Famous Rivera/Rockerfeller Dispute
In 1933, the famous New York Rockefeller family
commissioned Diego Rivera to paint a mural on
the wall of the new RCA centre. The theme for
the wall was to be “new frontiers”,
and it was Nelson A. Rockefeller himself who
wanted the painting to force people to stop
and think about its message. The finished product
depicted a number of scenes that referred to
socially relevant events of the time. However,
there was one element of the mural that the
Rockefellers deemed too controversial and Rivera
was asked to change the prominent face of a
well-known political figure. What began as an
effort to bring an eye-catching and thought
provoking work of art to the Rockefeller Centre
soon turned into a major conflict that would
involve America’s richest family, Mexico’s
most famous artist, and the entire American
public.
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Diego Rivera murals had gained huge attention
in the artist’s home country of Mexico.
The task of creating a painting on one of America’s
most famous landmarks, however, promised to
be the job that would bring Rivera international
fame. It is said that, initially, the Rockefeller
family, who favoured a more modern style of
art, wanted Henri Matisse or Pablo Picasso to
handle the enormous task, but because the two
artists were unavailable for hire, Diego Rivera
was approached. Seizing the great opportunity,
Rivera accepted the commission and immediately
began work on the large mural.
Although the Rockefeller family had put forward
the idea for the theme “new frontiers”,
Rivera disapproved with the Western world’s
embrace of free enterprise. Choosing instead
to follow his own political beliefs, Rivera
painted scenes that depicted the modern worker
confronted by a symbolic junction of industry,
capitalism, socialism and science. The newest
of the Diego Rivera murals was provisionally
called “Man at the Crossroads
Looking with Hope and High Vision to the Choosing
of a New and Better Future.” The
mural was spectacular and achieved Nelson Rockefeller’s
goal of creating a work that was arresting and
inspiring. Among some of the influential personalities
portrayed on the canvas were Jean Harlow, Charlie
Chaplin, Edsel Ford and the famous Russian communist
leader Vladimir Lenin.
 Upon completion of the mural, Rivera revealed
his work to the Rockefellers, but their response
was not what he had expected. When Nelson Rockefeller
adamantly demanded that Rivera remove the image
of Lenin and replace it with the face of another
historically influential leader, Rivera refused
and the mural was subsequently covered for an
entire year. Although many American citizens
protested to what they perceived to be artistic
censorship, the painting would never see the
light of day in the States and it was eventually
chiseled off the wall at Rockefeller’s
request.
Objecting to having his work censored, Diego
Rivera later reproduced the mural in its original
form on the interior wall of the Palacio de
Bellas Artes in Mexico City. His new painting
was as grand and thought provoking as the original,
but Rivera chose to call this new version, “Man
Controller of the Universe.” Today, this
most controversial of the Diego Rivera murals
is still displayed in Mexico City and many a
fan of Rivera still dispute the Rockefeller
family’s decision to prevent the work
from being viewed.
This article was written by Betty Botis
Betty Botis is an avid art collector and fan of all Diego Rivera's art. She is also a freelance writer for Diego Rivera Prints.
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