Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

In 1940, with Diego in the city painting his Pan-American Unity mural, Frida flew to San Francisco for treatment by Dr Eloesser. It was the year after their divorce.

Diego pushed for a reconciliation. On his 54th birthday, December 8, Frida and Diego were remarried. Though they moved in together again, it was with the understanding they would live sexually and financially independent lives.

Around this time Frida began writing the diary that she would keep until her death. In it she wrote:

‘I cannot speak of Diego as my husband because that term, when applied to him, is an absurdity. He never has been, nor will he ever be, anybody’s husband.’

‘My painting carries with it the message of pain.’

Frida’s health went through some truly terrible cycles.

1934 to 1935 was a bad year: she had several toes amputated and lost another baby.

1950 to 1951 was just as bad: Frida’s health deteriorated and she endured seven operations on her spine and nine months in hospital, Diego sleeping alongside her in a cot.

Diego had often failed to support her when she was ill but – even though he had almost left her months before for a lover he wanted to marry – this time Frida was clearly too ill to abandon.

In 1953, Frida’s problem right foot turned gangrenous. It and part of her lower leg were amputated and she was confined to a wheelchair.

Frida declared: ‘Feet, what do I want them for if I have wings to fly?’ but in truth her spirit was nearly broken. For years she had been drinking heavily and had become addicted to painkillers.

Sick of being disabled, when asked what she wanted done with her body after her death Frida replied:

‘Burn it … I don’t want to be buried. I have spent too much time lying down … just burn it!’

July 13, 1954: After a lifetime of pain, Frida died aged 47 at Casa Azul, where she was born and had lived so much of her life.

Though a pulmonary embolism was the official reason given for her death, it has long been thought she may have deliberately overdosed on painkillers: a few days before her death, she had written in her diary: ‘I hope the exit is joyful and I hope never to return.’

November 24, 1957: Diego died of heart failure at the age of 70 in his San Ángel studio.

Diego wanted his ashes to be mixed with those of Frida’s, for them to be interred together forever at Casa Azul. To that end, for years he had kept aside one of his beloved pre-Columbian urns for himself and his beloved Frida.

But Diego’s last wish was to be frustrated. His daughters and ex-wife, wanting him to be afforded the proper level of respect, refused his wishes. Diego was instead buried in the Rotunda of Famous Men in Mexico City, alone.