Memo from Irving Bacon to A.J. Lepine (for Edsel Ford), July 27, 1932, regarding the Diego Rivera "Detroit Industry" Murals

01

Artifact Overview

Partway through work on his Detroit Industry murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1932, Diego Rivera painted a portrait of the frescoes' primary sponsor, Edsel Ford. Rivera requested several photographs of Ford to assist with the portrait. Because of concerns over privacy and security, special permission was required to supply the photos.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Memorandum

Subject Date

27 July 1932

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

64.167.6.53

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 5 in
Width: 8 in

02

Related Content

  • Diego Rivera at the Detroit Institute of Arts with John "Viscount Hastings," Clifford Wight and William Valentiner, 1932
    Set

    Detroit Industry Frescoes: The Backstory

    • 32 Artifacts
    In 1932, the Detroit Institute of Arts commissioned Diego Rivera to paint murals depicting the city's industrial activities. The artist spent eight months creating the 27 frescoes in Detroit Industry. This photograph, taken during the project, shows (left to right) Viscount John Hastings and Clifford Wright, two of Rivera's students; Rivera; and DIA director Wilhelm Valentiner.