The Diego Rivera House Museum is located in the historic center of the city. It was founded in 1975 in the house which was the birthplace of Diego María Rivera Barrientos, one of the greatest Mexican painters to have ever lived. Born on December 8, 1886, in one of the rooms on the first floor, Rivera lived the first six years of his life here, a time that would mark the development of his personality.

In 1971, to honor this illustrious Mexican muralist in his native city, the project to convert the house into a museum was begun. The Mexican government began restoration and remodeling efforts in 1975.

Approximately 100 original works of art by Diego Rivera are normally on display, mainly from the collection of Marte R. Gómez. This is one of the most important collections in Mexico, as it shows the various creative stages of the artist, including his formative years and his cubist period. The collection is made up of portraits, landscapes, nudes, allegories, still lifes and mural studies done using a variety of techniques and mediums including oil paints, pencil, ink, lithography and watercolor.

Ground floor

The rooms on the first floor have furniture and other objects from the turn of the 20th century on display. These recreate the period in which Diego Rivera was born, in what was his family's home.

First stage

1. Sala Mascarilla. The Diego Rivera death mask, by sculptor Federico Canessi, is also on exhibition.

2. Sala Oleos. The museum features pieces from Diego Rivera's formative period in the Academia de San Carlos, such as Cabeza Clásica (Classical Head), done at 11 years of age, and Naturaleza muerta con botella de anís (Still life with bottle of anisette), a piece from his stay in Europe.

3. Sala Cubismo. Features oil paintings and drawings representative of this period, principally El fusilero marino (The Sailor Fusilier) and El retrato de Bertha Kristosser (Portrait of Bertha Kristosser).

4. Sala Desnudos y Dibujos. On exhibit, among other pieces, are nudes of Frida Kahlo and Dolores Olmedo, as well as the paintings Autorretrato (Self Portrait) and La bañista de Tehuantepec (The Bather of Tehuantepec)

5. Sala Litografías y Retratos. Standouts in this room include: La maestra rural (The Rural Schoolteacher), Zapata, and the painting Niño en Rojo (Boy in Red), a portrait of young Rodolfo Gómez, son of the collector Marte R. Gómez.

6 and 7. Salas Popol Vuh. A collection of ink drawings inspired by the classic book of Mayan culture, done in 1931.

8. Sala del Patio. Temporary exhibition room.

Second floor

1. Sala Paricutín. Watercolors and ink drawings done by Diego Rivera during the eruption of the volcano Paricutín.

2. Sala Bocetos. Preliminary drawings for the mural Historia del Teatro (History of the Theater), which was painted in the Teatro de los Insurgentes in Mexico City.

3. Sala Dibujos. Collection of pencil and ink drawings of various subjects and periods.

4. Sala Post Guerra. Features the piece Postguerra (Postwar), which lends its title to this room and the ink drawings in the books of the Agrarian Conventions.

5. Sala Foto Mural. On display is an enlarged photo of the mural Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central), which is located in the Diego Rivera Mural Museum in Mexico City. Also featured are photos of Diego and Frida, and a reproduction of the text Retrato de Diego , written by Frida Kahlo.

6. Sala Beloff y Marevna. Pointillist drawings and paintings of Angelina Belfo and Marevna, two women who played decisive roles in the artistic life of Diego Rivera during his stay in Europe.

Third floor

1 and 2. Salas Temporales. Regular exhibitions of the work of outstanding artists from Mexico and abroad are organized.

Museo Casa Diego Rivera Positos No. 47, Phone and fax. +52 (473) 732 1197  E-mail: CULTURE@redes.int.com.mx Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 19:00 h. Sunday, 10:00 to 15:00 h.