He stood on a podium in a crowded scene.

The crowded scene reminded Rivera of "how we used to live" in Panama, and he embraced every second of the visit.

"Three or four days ago it was normal, but today it was something very strange," he said, describing a crowded scene in the center of town.

At the same time they were useful in crowded narrative scenes for distinguishing the main, identifiable, figures from the mass of a crowd.

It would help elevate them from the legions of imitators in the crowded suburban scene.

He looked for the minikin figure of Nathaire, whom he could not distinguish in the crowded scene.

Velazquez the portraitist was at his best in this crowded scene, where there are winners and losers, but clearly no nobodies.

Nevertheless the crowded scenes are common at the market place on Sundays and holidays.

I had the sense of a tremendous energy - as if the whole crowded scene was humming and buzzing away.

Surrounding Rivera in the crowded scene are other figures from his personal life and Mexican history.