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The Spirit of '76
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. Another original variations of the work by
Williard hang in the United States Department of State. Of note, he
used his father as the model for the middle character of the
painting. Willard painted three murals in the main hall of the
Fayette County, Ohio courthouse in Washington Court House, Ohio:
"The Spirit of Electricity", "The Spirit of Telegraphy" and "The
Spirit of the Mail".
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