Place Pierre de Coubertin

All for one and one for all! Our father put us on 12 pillars around this square so as to bring it to life. Before, however as much you called it Place de Coubertain, you couldn't tell it that much from Rue de l'Hocaille which crossed it from one side to another. It was thanks to this ingenious idea that the gallant Félix Roulin won the competition that was run with two other artists. Those other egocentrics wanted to put their sculpture on full view in the middle of the square... I hope it's not too difficult for you to work out which discipline is taught in the two buildings surrounding us? Try a bit harder, look at the moving body, the twisted limbs, and me, well I'm in the starting blocks! And you may have heard of the name Pierre de Coubertin? Ok, I'll tell you, I'm a sportsman! This square is at the heart of the Faculty of Motricity Sciences, the old Institute of Physical Education and Rehabilitation...The building with its tiered roof houses the lecture theatres and seminar rooms. The one opposite contains the laboratories, physio rooms, the faculty library and offices.

Photo(s)

Name

Tribute to the body in twelve fragments, attitudes and movements.

Date created

Unveiled in 1996.

Artist

Félix Roulin.

Function

Decorative work commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Motricity Sciences.

Characteristics

Group of 12 bronze sculptures.
Tribute to the movement of the human body as studied by its sponsor.
An echo to the pedestrianized town.
Evokes a series of disciplines of the Olympic Games: swimming, running, weightlifting, etc.
The artist chose to leave the supporting components of the sculptures, which are usually removed.

To begin with

Baron Pierre de Coubertin is the man who relaunched the organisation of the Olympic Games in modern times and founded the International Olympic Committee.

To see

If you look a bit closer at the sculptures by Félix Roulin, you will be able to see all the small details in them, referring back to antiquity.

Two sculptures refer directly to the history of art, imitating the Discobolos of Myron and the Torso of Apollo, which inspired Michelangelo and Rodin.

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