Dream of Spring (Rêve de printemps)

Purchased from the artist by (Tooth & Sons, Paris, France) in 1901.{1} Probably Howard Deering Johnson [1897-1972].{2} Included in a 1967 Parke-Bernet, New York, New York, auction;{3} Included in a 1968 Parke-Bernet, New York, auction;{4} Included in a Parke-Bernet auction in 1969.{5} (Ira Spanierman Gallery, New York, New York) by 1977.{6} R.J. Kassman, Northern California.{7} Fred and Sherry Ross, New Jersey.{8} On consignment with (Ira Spanierman Gallery, New York){9} Mel and Bren Simon, Indianapolis, Indiana; given to the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 2013. {1} See Damien Bartoli and Frederick C. Ross, William Bouguereau: Catalogue Raisonné of his Painted Work, 2010, catalogue no. 1901/03, Plate 258, noting that the sales registers of Tooth & Sons list this painting as "Printemps, 4 figures;" it entered their gallery stock on 7 May 1901 and was sold on 14 August 1901, with no purchaser identified. {2} Bartoli and Ross list Johnson as a previous owner, however, portions of the provenance information cited by the authors is incorrect. For example, this painting was not included in 1934 and 1942 New York auctions. (The painting auctioned in 1942 is catalogue no. 1901/04. A typographical error mars the reference to a 21 October 1934 auction - 21 October 1937 is meant - but this is also a reference to catalogue no. 1901/04. {3} Parke-Bernet, New York, Barbizon and Other XIX and XX Century Paintings, 13 December 1967, lot no. 42 (illustration) as "Premier Amour." Correspondence with Lucian Simmons of Sotheyby's in March 2013 indicates that the painting did not sell. {4} Parke-Bernet, New York, Barbizon and Other XIX Century Paintings and Drawings, 31 October 1968, lot no. 68. The painting did not sell, according to Lucian Simmons. {5} Parke-Bernet, New York, Old Master, Barbizon and Other Nineteenth Century Paintings and Drawings, 14 May 1969, lot no. 145. The painting did not sell, according to Lucian Simmons, who notes that the consignor to the 1967, 1968 and 1969 auctions was the same individual, whose identity Sotheby's is unable to reveal, though it may well have been Howard Johnson{6} See the advertisement (with illustration) in Nineteenth Century (Victorian Society in America), volume 3 (Spring 1977); see Photoarchive File at Frick Art and Reference Library. {7} See Bartoli and Ross, catalogue no. 1901/03, although this has not been confirmed. {8} Fred, or Frederick, Ross is the coauthor of the Bouguereau catalogue raisonné. {9} As per correspondence with Ira Spanierman Gallery in February 2013.