Charles Louis de Frédy, the father of Pierre de Coubertin, was born in 1822 and died in 1908 in Paris. He was a well-respected genre and church painter, who became known primarily for his large murals in churches and public buildings. In 1848/49, he visited North Africa and the Orient and returned with a range of fresh, almost impressionist watercolours. Later, Charles de Coubertin’s style changed; in particular he interpreted serious religious subjects. “Le Cortège Pontifical” (1860) and “Le Départ des Missionaires” (1868) are two examples of ca. 100 murals by the painter. For more than 40 years, Charles de Coubertin exhibited in the famous “Salon de Paris” as Superintendant of Fine Arts. Of particular interest are his personal sketches and paintings of landscapes, especially those of the Normandy, his wife’s homeland, and of Chateau Mirville. There is also a considerable number of portrait sketches of his family, especially of the four children. He sketched his youngest son Pierre many times in his childhood years. Pierre later influenced his father to interpret sporting themes.