Maven: missing artifact org.springframework:spring:jar:4.2.6

I'm quite sure there is no artifact called "spring"

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring</artifactId>           <!-- *** spring doesn't *** exist  -->
    <version>4.2.6</version>
</dependency>

Depending on the Spring components you need, you should basically include these dependencies:

    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
        <version>4.2.6.RELEASE</version>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
        <version>4.2.6.RELEASE</version>
    </dependency>

In my Spring project, I include the Spring artifacts via a BOM (Bill of Materials):

<properties>
    <spring.version>4.2.6.RELEASE</spring.version>
</properties>

<dependencyManagement>
    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-framework-bom</artifactId>
            <version>${spring.version}</version>
            <type>pom</type>
            <scope>import</scope>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>
</dependencyManagement>

<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-web</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-webmvc</artifactId>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
        <artifactId>spring-aspects</artifactId>
    </dependency>
<!-- more -->
</dependencies>

What worked for me is that I deleted

/Users/username/.m2/repository/org/springframework/spring/ directory

and then run mvn clean install command in my project.

That way Maven downloaded the real .jar file that was previously I guees not recognized.