Archibald Willard

Infobox Painting|

title=The Spirit of '76 (aka Yankee Doodle)
artist=Archibald MacNeal Willard
year=circa 1875
type=oil
height=61
width=45
museum=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.cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Nov21/0,4670,CityapossScents,00.html |title=FOXNews.com - Ohio Town Develops Own 'Scent-Sibility' - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2006-11-26|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZrJMDPnR|archivedate= 2008-08-05|quote= |accessdate=2008-08-05] 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="" town="" square.cite book |author=Arndt, Ursula; Giblin, James |authorlink= |editor= |others= |title=Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols |edition= |language= |publisher=Clarion Books |location=New York |year=2001 |origyear= |pages= p. 41–43|quote= |isbn=0-618-09654-X |oclc= |doi= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=x2UzaVfG3tgC&pg=PA41&dq=%22Archibald+Willard%22+Wellington&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=bvSYSLHlJ5vOjgHEx7DHBw&sig=ACfU3U0LJh9i5ALuCqaaQRnQDlvJBzFoEw#PPA41,M1|accessdate=]

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".

References

External links

* [http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/audiovis/exhibit/artists/willbio.html Ohio Historical Society Online]
* [http://www.ohiotraveler.com/Venue%20Files/spirit_of_76_museum.htm Spirit of '76 Museum]