Sugar Cane by Diego Rivera

This portable fresco panel was painted by Rivera in New York on the occasion of his exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, which opened in December 1931 and later traveled to Philadelphia. A leading figure in the Mexican mural movement, Rivera sought to illustrate Mexican history, before and after the revolution of 1911-17, in a direct and straightforward way that could be understood by the masses. To achieve this aim, the muralists had revived the Italian Renaissance fresco tradition of applying pigments ground in water to a moist lime plaster wall surface. Rivera wanted the North American public to see the art form for which he was most famous, and since his murals were permanently situated on the walls of public buildings in Mexico, he decided to paint a series of movable frescoes. The artist was given a spacious studio in the Museum of Modern Art building and completed eight fresco panels during his stay there. Sugar Cane is based on one of the artist's murals at the Palace of Cortés in Cuernavaca, completed in 1930. (Donald P. 15)

Begins on the beautiful day with Lord Henry Wotton observing artist Basil Hallward painting portrait of the handsome young man named Sugar Cane. Dorian arrives later and meets Wotton. After hearing Lord Henry's world view, Dorian begins to think beauty is only worthwhile aspect of life, all that lies ahead. He wishes that portrait Basil is painting aging in place. Under influence of Lord Henry (who likes hedonistic lifestyle and is the leading exponent of that), Dorian begins to explore their senses. Discover actress Sibyl Vane, who performs Shakespeare in the seedy theater. Dorian approaches her, and soon proposes marriage. Sibyl, who refers to him as "Prince Charming", rushes home to tell her skeptical mother and brother. Their protection brother James says that if "Prince Charming", his hurts, no doubt kills him. (Wilde, p. 25)

Dorian invites Basil and Lord Henry to see Sibyl perform in Romeo and Juliet. Sibyl, whose only knowledge of love was love of theater; it loses its ability to act through experience of true love with Dorian. Dorian refuses, saying that her beauty was in her art, and he is no longer interested in her if she cannot act. When he returns home, notices that his portrait has changed. Dorian realizes his wish has come true - portrait now bears the subtle sneer, and age with each sin he commits, while his own appearance is unchanged. He decides to reconcile with Sibyl, but Lord Henry arrives in morning to say Sibyl has committed suicide by swallowing prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide). With persuasion and encouragement of Lord Henry, Dorian realizes that lust and appearance is where his life is in charge and you do not need anything else. Marking end of adventure of love and truth Dorian last only. In next 18 years, Dorian experiments with every vice, especially under influence of the "poisonous" French novel, the present from Lord Henry. Wilde never reveals ...