Who painted Springtime and Love?

Springtime and Love was painted by Francesco Paolo Michetti in 1878.

Where can I see Springtime and Love?

Springtime and Love is held by Art Institute of Chicago.

What movement is Springtime and Love?

Springtime and Love is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Springtime and Love

Francesco Paolo Michetti , 1878

Springtime and Love is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Francesco Paolo Michetti. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Francesco Michetti’s oil painting depicts a lively group of children at play on a sun‑lit hilltop in Abruzzo, Italy.

About this work

Overview

Francesco Michetti’s oil painting depicts a lively group of children at play on a sun‑lit hilltop in Abruzzo, Italy. The composition centers on youthful figures surrounded by a bright landscape, while a spaniel watches from the foreground, adding a subtle narrative element to the festive scene.

Subject & Meaning

Two of the children are shown handling tambourines, instruments traditionally linked to southern Italian folk celebrations. In local symbolism the tambourine’s circular form and jingling metal were associated with the sun, suggesting themes of warmth, light and communal joy.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the work employs vivid coloration and loose brushwork to convey the brightness of spring and the movement of the figures. Michetti’s handling of light emphasizes the sun‑drenched atmosphere, while the detailed rendering of the spaniel’s eye provides a contrasting focal point.

History & Provenance

The painting was exhibited at the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris and later at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Eight years after the latter showing, it entered the permanent collection of the museum that now houses it.

Context

Part of a broader series inspired by Abruzzo’s people, landscapes, festivals and customs, the canvas reflects Michetti’s interest in regional folk culture and its visual motifs, particularly the symbolic role of musical instruments in local tradition.