23rd May 2023 – (London) During a recent visit to the National Gallery in London, a British mother and daughter stumbled upon an amusing discovery in a 17th-century portrait. The portrait, created by Dutch painter Ferdinand Bol, features an eight-year-old noble boy holding a goblet and wearing a black cloak. However, what caught the attention of Fiona Horscott and her daughter Holly was the boy’s footwear—a pair of sports shoes with a white “NIKE” logo.
The unexpected sight of the Nike shoes in a 400-year-old painting amused and astonished the pair, leading them to joke that the boy might be a “time traveler.” The painting, which dates back to the 1650s, portrays Bol’s nephew, Frederick, who belonged to a wealthy family of wine merchants.
The discovery has sparked the imagination of many, with some speculating that it could be evidence of the existence of real “time travellers.” However, the coincidence can be explained by the fact that the Nike logo was inspired by the wing of the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, who was often depicted wearing sandals in ancient Greek art. Additionally, the Nike brand has been around for almost 60 years, having been established on 25th January, 1964.
