A Gold Medal For An Artist €- What Is The Meaning Of It ?

Gold medals are usually associated with sport world and athletes standing on the first place of the podium

. What most of us don't realize is the fact that besides the sports competition, there are other ones as well. Those who win them are not necessarily public figures for what counts most to them is the privilege of being recognized as the best professionals in their field of activity. These people of great talent and passion are the artists. And, just like for great results in sports, gold medals are used to reward their achievements.

Commemorating a place, an event or a fellow human being who makes an important contribution to society and its evolution has always been an essential element in humanity's history and medals are one of the forms chosen for that purpose. In the shape of large medallions or small plaques, they are made of gold, silver and bronze, metals corresponding to the three Ages of Man in Greek Mythology: the Golden Age, with men living among the gods, the Silver Age, when lasted a hundred years, and the Bronze Age, the time of heroes. Things seem to have reversed though and nowadays we can say that gold medalists are regarded as gods living among men.

The pattern imposed by sports competitions was followed in the fields of arts and, since 18th century, gold medals have been awarded as a symbol of an award giving an outstanding student some financial freedom. The Royal Danish Academy was the first institution to have done that, but it didn't take long before other competitive fields, such as writing and music, adopted the practice. Just like in sport, the award of a gold medal for the winner is coupled with the award of silver and bronze medals for the next places finishers.

In order to recognize the artists' work, there are nowadays numerous organizations who grant awards and prizes. At some point, there were some attempts made to be put for arts and sports on an equal footing in what the competitions were concerned. Consequently, during the early years of the modern Olympic Games, from 1912-1948, art competitions were also present as part of the original idea of the Olympic Movement's founder, Pierre de Frdy, Baron de Coubertin. Architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture were the five categories accepted and artists representing them were asked to enter the competition works of art inspired of sport. When the competition was over, the best of these artists received gold, silver and bronze medals. Unfortunately, it was all over in 1948, the reason invoked being that artists were considered to be professionals, whereas Olympic athletes were required to be amateurs.

Should we doubt that a gold medal has a different meaning for an artist than it has for an athlete? After all, it's a prize which rewards somebody's genius, talent and hard work. As human being is of such complexity, it takes both artists and athletes' achievements to celebrate it. The perfection and strength of the human body are highlighted by amazing athletes; while the sensitivity and beauty of the human spirit are celebrated by outstanding artists. These are extraordinary individuals and their medals should be just the same. While buying the purest of gold, the advice of the greatest professionals in the field should not be overlooked as well. In the end, it's not just the gold we buy, but also glory.

by: Jack Wogan.

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