10 must-see works at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Quick answer
The Detroit Institute of Arts' must-sees are Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals, Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with Straw Hat, Bruegel's The Wedding Dance, Caravaggio's Martha and Mary Magdalene, Fuseli's The Nightmare, Whistler's Nocturne and the Ishtar Gate dragon. Start with the Rivera Court, the heart of the building.
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The key works
Some galleries are temporarily closed; check the official site for what's on view.
- 1
Rivera Court
Detroit Industry — Diego Rivera (1932–1933)
27 fresco panels on industry, science and Detroit's workers; a National Historic Landmark.
- 2
European painting
Self-Portrait with Straw Hat — Vincent van Gogh (1887)
The first Van Gogh bought by a US public museum.
- 3
European painting
The Wedding Dance — Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1566)
A peasant celebration with dozens of figures.
- 4
European painting
Martha and Mary Magdalene — Caravaggio (c. 1598)
One of the few Caravaggios in the United States.
- 5
European painting
The Nightmare — Henry Fuseli (1781)
An icon of dark Romanticism, endlessly reproduced.
- 6
European painting
The Visitation — Rembrandt (1640)
An intimate meeting bathed in golden light.
- 7
American painting
Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket — Whistler (c. 1875)
A forerunner of abstraction at the centre of a famous trial.
- 8
Modern art
The Window — Henri Matisse (1916)
An interior pared down to planes of colour.
- 9
Ancient art
Dragon of Marduk from the Ishtar Gate (c. 600 BC)
Glazed brick from Nebuchadnezzar II's Babylon.
- 10
African art
Nkisi nkondi power figure (Kongo)
A figure studded with nails and blades, each sealing an agreement or oath.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DIA's most famous work?
Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals.
Does the DIA have a Van Gogh?
Yes, Self-Portrait with Straw Hat from 1887.
Are there Caravaggios?
Yes, Martha and Mary Magdalene.
Is everything on view?
Not always: some galleries are temporarily closed; check the official site.