Archibald Willard Lorain Journal Article – July 1926

Courtesy fineartamerica.com

Here’s another article about Archibald M. Willard, the man who painted “Spirit of ’76.” It appeared in the Lorain Journal on July 21, 1926. It’s from an interesting perspective because Willard had only passed away in 1918 – less than ten years earlier – and the iconic painting itself was only about 50 years old. (The date of its creation differs according to the source, but it was unveiled in 1876.)

WELLINGTON MAN
ORIGINAL PAINTER
OF ‘SPIRIT OF ’76’
--------
Origin of Masterpiece Was
Drawn as Satire on
Fourth Celebration

(Special to The Journal)

WELLINGTON, July 21 – Achibald M. Willard, artist who produced the “Spirit of ’76,” was a Wellington circus-wagon painter in 1870 when he produced the famous master-piece.

Not only that, but he drew it as his idea of a satire on Fourth of July celebrations.

These statements may seem astounding to many of the art lovers who have always looked upon the “Spirit of ’76” with a sort of awe. Yet there are ample facts to back them up.

Willard, who later moved to Cleveland, was brought back to Wellington after his death, and his body is buried there.

Circus Wagon Displayer
Back in 1870 some of Willard’s work, as displayed on circus wagons, attracted the attention of J. F. Ryder, Cleveland art dealer, who contracted with him to paint some of the then popular chromos.

A little later Ryder suggested that there might be a good market for a painting called “Yankee Doodle,” that could be sold in connection with the then coming centennial celebration in Philadelphia.

Willard decided to add this one to this list.

Lorain-co Farmer Model
For the central character, the tall, white-haired drummer, he had his father, a retired Baptist minister, pose. Hugh Mosher, a Lorain-co farmer and fifer in the Civil War, was the model for the fife player.

Harry K. Devereux, son of Gen. J. H. Devereux, was the young drummer. Gen Devereux finally bought the picture and presented it to the Marblehead, Mass., town hall, where it now hangs.

Young Devereux, when the picture was painted was a student in Brooks Military school in Cleveland.

Displayed at Many Places
After its showing in Philadelphia, the picture was displayed in the Old South Church, Boston, the Corcoran Gallery, Washington, and in San Francisco.

The title “Yankee Doodle” was changed at the request of the Philadelphia centennial committee for fear it would offend a local character.

In 1911 the city of Cleveland paid Willard $3,000 for a replica of the famous picture which is now in the rotunda of the City Hall.