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| The Spirit of '76 |
| Archibald MacNeal Willard, circa 1875 |
| oil |
| 61 × 45 cm |
| United States Department of State |
Archibald MacNeal Willard (August 22, 1836 - October 11, 1918) was an American painter who was born and raised in Bedford, Ohio. Willard is buried in Wellington, Ohio at the Greenwood Cemetery. Willard joined the 86th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1863 and fought in the American Civil War. During this time he painted several scenes from the war, and forged a friendship with photographer James F. Ryder. Willard painted "The Spirit of '76" in Wellington, Ohio after he saw a parade pass through the town square. Willard's most famous work is The Spirit of '76 (previously known as Yankee Doodle) which was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition. The original is believed displayed in Abbot Hall (Marblehead, Massachusetts) as Williard painted several variations of the now-famous scene. Other original variations of the work by Williard hang in the United States State Depart and the Fayette County Ohio courthouse in Washington Courthouse Ohio. Of note, he used his father as the model for the middle character of the painting.
