Oil On Canvas: The Dream After Edouard Detaille

"The Dream" (1888) is one of the most famous paintings by the French academic painter Édouard Detaille (1848-1912), renowned for his extremely detailed military scenes.

The painting depicts French soldiers asleep during maneuvers. Above them, in the sky, unfolds a dreamlike vision: a glorious army of infantry, cavalry, and flags, evoking France's past military grandeur.
The contrast between reality—exhausted soldiers—and the heroic dream symbolizes the nostalgia for a victorious France, still marked by the defeat of 1870.

This unsigned work is a high-quality Ancenis copy.
Dimensions: 97.5 cm x 74 cm; the original measured 4 meters by 3 meters.

Some losses are visible in the photos.
Framed in a floater frame.
Further photos or information available upon request.

The original was exhibited at the Salon of 1888, where it met with immense success.
Interpreted as a call to patriotism and revenge after the Franco-Prussian War, the work strongly influenced the republican imagination of the late 19th century.
It is held at the Musée d'Orsay.