Olympism, a modern invention: the exhibition between art and sport at the Musée du Louvre, our photos

The Musée du Louvre is gearing up for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. From April 24 to September 16, 2024, we'll be in the Galerie Richelieu to discover a major exhibition devoted to sport in the arts. Don't miss the exhibition"Olympism, a modern invention, an ancient heritage".

In France, we're all familiar with Pierre de Coubertin, considered to be the father of the modern Olympic Games. But the renaissance of this immense sporting competition is actually due to the work of various researchers and artists. The Musée du Louvre reveals the secrets of these modern Games, through paintings, drawings, sculptures, goldsmith's and silversmith's work... A total of 120 objects are on display in the Paris museum's Galerie Richelieu.

In the 19th century, archaeological digs in Greece unearthed exceptional treasures, rekindling Western passion for this ancient society. Archaeology, the study of languages, history and art: all these disciplines found themselves intertwined in this current event, which inspired researchers and artists alike. At the same time, tensions and conflicts in Europe are prompting governments to promote physical activity and sport among young people, while creating links and cultural interactions between countries.

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It was in this particular context that Pierre de Coubertin decided to reinvent the Olympic Games. A historian and campaigner for the practice of sport in schools, the famous baron set himself up as the renovator of the Games. To breathe new life into this competition, he drew on the work of academics, finding his inspiration in ancient sports, which were revealed through excavations and archaeological finds.

The exhibition at the Musée du Louvre also highlights little-known historians and politicians whose role was essential to modern Olympism. Emile Gilliéron was a Swiss-born draughtsman living in Greece. The official artist of the 1896 Olympic Games, he created numerous antique-inspired images to promote the Games. Drawing on archaeological culture, he used all the techniques of reproduction (drawing, molding, lithography, printing...) to invent trophies and visuals for state communication, notably the famous stamps, several of which are on display in the museum's Richelieu gallery.

We also learn more about the academic Michel Bréal, whose name is deeply linked to the invention of the marathon race. At the time, he gave it a cup in his name. The exhibition features this famous Bréal cup. It was presented in 1896 to the first winner of the race, Greek Spyridon Louis. Made in Paris by an anonymous goldsmith, it had never before been exhibited in the capital.

Ancient and modern, sport, art and science: theLouvre's exhibition takes us on a fantastic journey, discovering Olympism in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games!