International Art Treasures Web Magazine

December  2004  

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Detroit Institute of Arts

Motor vehicles and Motown are probably the first two subjects that come to mind when one thinks of Detroit. Let's add to that perception with an exploration of one of the finest art museums in the world, the Detroit Institute of Arts.

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Title: Cotopaxi, 1862
Artist: Frederic Edwin Church (American 1826-1900)
Permanent Collection and Image Courtesy: The Detroit Institute of Arts

Vincent van Gogh, Frederic Edwin Church and Diego Rivera are all among the numerous works found in the spectacular permanent collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).

Title: Self Portrait, 1887
Artist: Vincent van Gogh (Dutch 1853-1890)
Permanent Collection and Image Courtesy: The Detroit Institute of Arts

The DIA is the home of the first Vincent van Gogh painting ever to enter an American museum, the Self Portrait of 1887.

During his career Frederic Edwin Church was considered to be the most famous American painter in his home country.

Diego Rivera

Title: Detroit Industry (North Wall), 1932-1933
Artist: Diego Rivera (Mexican 1886-1957)
Permanent Collection and Image Courtesy: The Detroit Institute of Arts

The Mexican Rivera is widely credited with reviving monumental fresco art work, something that was widely popular in Renaissance Europe but had fallen out of favor.

Rivera and the DIA will be forever joined thanks to the wisdom and foresight of William Valentiner.

The German-American art historian William Valentiner began working for the DIA in 1921. He served as the Institute's Director from 1924 through 1945. It was during this time that Valentiner commissioned Diego Rivera to create murals for the DIA.

Diego Rivera spent four years beginning in 1930 in the United States. Previously he had lived and worked in the Soviet Union during 1927.

He had two stand-out commissions. The Detroit Industry Murals, a series, at the DIA and a mural at the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Only the DIA murals survive. The Rockefeller Center mural was destroyed prior to completion because of Rivera's decision to include a portrait of Lenin in the work and refusal to remove it when asked to do so.

Besides an extensive permanent collection there are three exhibitions, among many, that are or will be on display at the DIA in the near future. They are Charles Sheeler photography, Murano Glass and Gerard ter Borch.

Photography of Charles Sheeler:
American Modernist
through December 5, 2004

Title: Blast Furnace and Dust Catcher - Ford Plant, 1927
Artist: Charles Sheeler (American 1883-1965)
Medium: Gelatin Silver Print
Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The Lane Collection
Image Courtesy: The Detroit Institute of Arts

The year was 1927 and the American photographer Charles Sheeler, a Philadelphia native, received a commission from the Ford Motor Company to document their plant in Dearborn, which is more commonly known as the Rouge Plant.

The Ford Company wanted to publicize and promote their new Model A production at the technologically superior plant. It was a business marriage made in heaven given Sheeler was known to be enrapt with the exciting American industry and would describe this as "a job made to order" and "incomparably the most thrilling [subject] I have had to work with." The Rouge was then the largest industrial complex in the world with a size of 1100 acres. Uniquely Sheeler opted not to make this series panoramic views but instead focused on the machinery as subject matter. The Rouge series comprised 40 photographs of which 23 form part of this study. Naturally, one of Sheeler's most famous photographs ever, Criss Crossed Conveyors is included in the exhibit.

"Sheeler's innovation in merging art and industry was as revolutionary as the era itself. Hosting this important exhibition at the DIA is especially relevant given Detroit's industrial background and the fact that the museum is home to another important work depicting the Ford River Rouge plant, Diego Rivera's incomparable Detroit Industry murals." said Graham W. J. Beal, Director of the DIA.

Murano: Glass From the Olnick Spanu Collection
December 12, 2004 - February 27, 2005

Title: Turches e nero, 1932
Artist: Tomaso Buzzir
V.S.M. Venini & C.,
Image Courtesy: The Detroit Institute of Arts

Venice is one of the most breathtaking cities in Europe. Exiting the train station at the mouth of the Grand Canal brings an unforgettable vision of the majesty of Venice. The city has three islands off its coast and each has an industry to call its own. The island of Murano is world-famous for its glass art.

Title: A murrine, 1927 Artist: Ercole Barovier Veteria Artistica Baroviere C., Image Courtesy: The Detroit Institute of Arts

Murano: Glass From the Olnick Spanu Collection is a historical interpretation of 20th Century Venetian glass art. Murano Glassworks have an extensive history. This exhibit focuses on the innovations of the past century.

Gerard ter Borch
February 27 to May 22, 2005

Title: A Lady at Her Toilet, 1660
Artist: Gerard ter Borch, The Younger (Dutch 1617-1681)
Image Courtesy: The Detroit Institute of Arts

The Dutch master, Gerard ter Borch, is the subject of a touring exhibit organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington and the American Federation of Arts. The exhibit will be hosted by the DIA in 2005. This edition of IATWM has a feature on the Gerard ter Borch exhibit here.

Detroit, famous for the auto industry, innovative music and is the home to one of the greatest art museums in the world!