Diego Rivera's 1951 painting shows the Chilean singer and actress, Matilde Palou, who became famous in Mexican cinema. Sotheby's sold this oil on canvass masterpiece for $203,000 in 1988. This Wednesday, this great work of art will be in Los Angeles galleries, being a prelude to the upcoming New York auction on May 25.

According to CNBC, in an email to the Associated Press, Sotheby's Head of Latin American Art, Axel Stein said that he saw this Diego Rivera's splendid portrait about 30 years ago and now he's once again struck by its beauty. "The painting is a wonderful example of the artist at the height of his powers and a glorious symbol of Mexican national pride. It is undoubtedly one of the most important works by the artist to appear at auction in recent memory," he even added.

The wonderful Diego Rivera's oil on canvass masterpiece measures 80 x 48 1/8 inches or 203 x 122.3 cm. This is estimated to range from $2 million up to $3 million. Set in 1995, Rivera got the auction record for Sotheby's "Baile en Tehuantepec" (1928) at $3,082,500, Washington Times reported.

Diego Rivera's painting is composed of a pencil preparatory drawing and the oil on canvass sketch. The drawing was dedicated "To Chapo Linda" having its title as "Chiapaneca."

In this painting, the 51-year old Diego Rivera, shows her model in its same position. The only distinctive features that you can quickly note are the cigarette on the model's right hand and the addition of another bracelet.

For the record, Diego Rivera's model Matilde Palou, is best recognized for such films as Rogelio A. Gonzalez's "La culta dama," Miguel Zacarias' "El dolor de los hijos," and Luis Bunuel's "Susana."

Matilde Palou worked for New York's MGM doing voiceovers. Married to Miguel Angel Ferriz, the famous Mexican actor, the model is truly a wonderful Diego Rivera masterpiece to have from the auction.

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