"The Spirit Of '76"
The famous "Spirit of '76" painting, originally know as "Yankee Doodle"
was painted in 1875 by Archibald MacNeal Willard (1836 to 1918) for the
Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. Willard, a native to Ohio,
fought during the Civil War as a soldier in the 86th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry in 1863. Willard's inspiration for the painting came about as
he watch a parade march past him in the Town Square. The center figure
is most notable as it resembles Archibald's late father. There are more
that one painting of the "Spirit Of '76" produced by Willard, which are
hung in various Government buildings. Willard went on to paint several
other scenes from the Civil War era. 
