According to art historian Walther Schoonenberg, this picture was an inspiration for the performance. (Musée Magnin) According to art historian Walther Schoonenberg,
the act was reminiscent of this artwork. The Olympic organizers clarified to the Musée Magnin that the performance did not represent the Last Supper but rather a scenario from Greek mythology.
The Feast of the Gods, by Jan van Bijlert from 1635, was the tableau vivant or ‘live painting’ in the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, according to Dutch art scholar
Walther Schoonenberg, who tweeted in agreement with this. The artwork he was mentioning is housed in France’s Musée Magnin; he supplied a picture of it.
The artistic director of the event, Thomas Jolly, said to the French news agency BFM that the plan was to have a large pagan celebration honoring the gods of Olympus.
There is absolutely zero intention of making fun of or otherwise disparaging anybody in my work. My goal in planning this event was to have it unite and reconcile individuals while also reiterating the Republican principles of freedom, equality, and fraternity.
