Art at the Olympic Games and the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa: 5 facts that few people know about

We all admire works of art with undisguised delight. SSPDaily has prepared five little-known facts about painting and artists to let you know a little more about this field.

Art at the Olympic Games

Few people know that in the early stages of the Olympic Games, art competed with athletic achievements. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern games, envisioned a true Olympian as an artist and an athlete. Between 1912 and 1948, medals were awarded for sports-inspired masterpieces of architecture, music, painting, sculpture, and literature.

The mysterious Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa's serene gaze hides a secret, as she even has her own "mailbox" in the Louvre. Enchanted admirers of the portrait showered her with signs of affection: flowers, poems, and even love letters. In 1852, the artist Luc Maspero went to the extreme, jumping off a hotel balcony. In his suicide note, he wrote: "For many years I have been desperately struggling with her smile. I prefer to die".

Color scheme

Although the United States is known as an early modern democracy, its color scheme dates back to before the founding of the state. In 1706, Sir Isaac Newton introduced the color wheel, discovering that white sunlight could be refracted into six different colors. This revolutionary concept opened up light as the primary source of color, which greatly helped artists who could now fully comprehend the harmony of complementary hues.

Microsculptures by Willard Wigan

Willard Wigan's sculptures are striking in their craftsmanship. These miniature works require microscopic observation to appreciate their intricacy. The artist's artistic process makes you slow down your heartbeat as he makes intermediate movements.

The mysterious trick of Banksy

The story of the famous street artist Banksy never ceases to amaze. In 2003, he effortlessly attached one of his works to the wall of the prestigious Tate Modern museum.

Despite the fact that the prank was quickly corrected due to poor quality glue, it fascinated the audience for several hours. This daring act left its mark, inspiring art student Andrzej Sobiepan, who spent three days successfully studying the National Museum's collection.