A major European painting acquisition is now on display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Dream of Spring by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, one of the most successful late 19th-century French artists, has been added to the museum’s permanent collection as a charitable gift.
Bouguereau’s Dream of Spring depicts a young woman seated at a woodland fountain, attended by three cherubs bearing flowers and the arrow of love. The oil painting measures more than 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Bouguereau was the quintessential academic painter, specializing in exquisitely drawn, beautiful women and irresistible children. His idealized style and romantic subjects made Bouguereau a favorite among collectors in America and Europe.
Encompassing 152 acres of gardens and grounds, the Indianapolis Museum of Art is among the 10 oldest and 10 largest encyclopedic art museums in the United States and features significant collections of African, American, Asian, European, contemporary art and design arts. The IMA offers visitors an expansive view of arts and culture through its collection that spans 5,000 years of history from across the world’s continents. The collections include paintings, sculpture, furniture and design objects, prints, drawings and photographs, as well as textiles and costumes.
For more information, call 317-923-1331 or visit www.imamuseum.org.