Bill Murray Says This Painting 'Saved His Life' — And It Still Inspires Visitors Today

February 10, 2026

Actor Bill Murray once shared a deeply personal story about a painting that helped him through a dark moment in his life—and the story is resonating with people again after a clip of his remarks recently caught the attention of CBS News Chicago.

Bill Murray / Red Carpet News

In the video, Murray recalls a difficult period early in his career when he was feeling discouraged after a performance.

During that time, he encountered a painting called The Song of the Lark, and something about it stayed with him.

“I think that gave me some sort of feeling that I too am a person and get another chance everyday the sun comes up,” Murray said.

CBS News Chicago looked into the story and spoke with Gloria Groom of the Art Institute of Chicago, where the painting has been displayed for generations. She described The Song of the Lark as one of the museum’s most beloved works.

Painted in 1884 in France by Jules Breton, the artwork shows a young farm worker walking barefoot along a path at sunrise. In the quiet of the morning, she pauses, transfixed by the sound of a skylark singing.

The Song of the Lark

Like many great works of art, the painting has meant different things to different people over time. Groom noted that when it was first shown in Paris, some saw it as a simple reflection of rural life. But in the United States, the painting took on a different meaning.

“It’s about aspiration,” she said.

That sense of hope is exactly what Murray felt years ago—and he’s far from the only one moved by the piece. The painting has a long history of admiration. In 1934, it was voted the most beloved painting in American collections and was unveiled in a ceremony by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Author Willa Cather was so inspired by the image that she named a novel after it.

Even Vincent van Gogh praised the work, calling it a “fine painting” in a letter to his brother Theo.

Today, visitors still gather in front of The Song of the Lark, often lingering quietly as they take it in.

“That’s why we have a museum,” Groom said. “And that’s why we do what we do.”

For Murray, the painting became a reminder that every sunrise brings another chance—a simple but powerful message that continues to inspire people more than a century after the artwork was created.