| A new design was required for the Diplomas.
Many artists submitted sketches, and for more than a year proposed designs
were examined, but none were found fully satisfactory. The Committee finally
went to Mr. H. M. Kurtzworth, Art Curator of the Los Angeles Museum, to
enlist his help in producing an appropriate design. He was immediately
interested and undertook the task himself.
The design, the color scheme,
and many of the details of the Diploma were directly inspired by the classic
art of the Greeks, through examples of vase painting found, for the most
part, in the Victor Merlo Collection of Classical Antiquities in the Los
Angeles Museum, dating back to the period of the beginning of the ancient
Olympic Games. The border of olive represents the branch of sacred leaves
taken from the tree within the temple walls, the highest award any man
could receive in the Games, or for service to the State. Columbia, the
modern Athena, symbolizing the United States of America, with the torch
of the Olympiad in her hand, stands in an attitude of welcome to the nations
of the world. She is clad in the Doric chiton and wears the Phrygian cap
of freedom on her head. The stars of aspiration, and the rising sun of
progress form her background, and at her feet the mountains, the palm and
orange groves, and the Los Angeles City Hall, symbolize the State and City
of the Xth Olympiad.
Athena, the Olympian patroness,
goddess of civic virtue, the arts, victory, and the home, represents the
ideal of the Olympic Games, wherein athletics and the arts of war were
practiced to insure adequate protection and full enjoyment of all the arts
of peace.
The goddess is garbed in the classic chiton
and himation. About her shoulders in the aegis or scaly skin of a monster,
indicating her power over enemies of man. On her brow and in her hand are
victors`wreaths of sacred olive and she also holds a statue of Nike, goddess
of victory. Athena`s shield and spear have been omitted, for here she appears
practicing the arts of peace, but at her feet is shown her war helmet.
In the distance is the Temple of Athena at Athens.
The Olympic Stadium, appearing
as seen by contestants from the middle of the arena, shows the entrance
surmounted by the Olympic Torch amidst flying flags and thronged spectators.
The frieze at the top of the
Diploma represents various aspects of the Games as depicted on vases of
the Sixth Century, B.C., - a judge; a contest in full armor; equestrian
sports; drama, music and the dance; flanked by another judge, spear in
hand.
The lower frieze represents other aspects
of the classic Games; a seated judge; physical examination as prescribed
both before and after contests; a discus thrower in the first position,
from a vase in the Munich Museum; a javelin thrower, from a vase in the
Boston Museum; the finish of a race, as depicted on an original Olympic
trophy vase of the Fifth Contury, B.C., in the Los Angeles Museum; and
a judge making a decision, from the same vase. The lower border is composed
of the typical Greek "fret," meander, or "key" motif, embellished with
the coasts of arms of the United States and of the State of California,
the Olympic insignia, the symbolic grapes of Los Angeles County, and the
four flags showing the historical development of the City of Los Angeles.
The terra cotta and black color
scheme was inspjired by Fifth Contury vases in the Los Angeles Museum.
(Source document: Official
Report 1932, page 333, 334) |
