The subject of this painting is the resurrection of the Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin, fed from their ancient and French roots. The city goddess Athena is enthroned before the ruins of the Erechtheion, a temple to the mythical founding fathers of venerable Athens. The citizens of Athens have gathered at her feet and beside her. The group is a cryptic representation of ancient Greek culture, in which the competitions played a central social role. While a citizen of antiquity holds up a branch as an ancient Olympic Games symbol of victory, Athena is placing a wreath on the head of a victorious Modern Age athlete, probably a rugby player. Here, the subject switches from Antiquity to the Modern Age, as a fencer stands behind him. Other types of sport follow, such as cycling, popular in France, rowing and polo. Apparently, Pierre de Coubertin regarded this representation as being so apt that he used it as the cover picture for the official IOC magazine, “Revue olympique”, from 1901 to 1914.
Details