"The spirit of '76": Some recollections of the artist and the painting — John Shaqi
"The spirit of '76": Some recollections of the artist and the paintingDevereux, Henry Kelsey
History
"The spirit of '76": Some recollections of the artist and the painting
Devereux, Henry Kelsey
Willard, Archibald M., 1836-1918
This little studio had a northern exposure, and he was artist enough,
even then, to realize the value of the northern light. His canvas when
stretched was taller than himself. His idea had become a big one and
nothing but life-size would do for the figures to be used. He followed
the general idea of his first picture, “Yankee Doodle or a Fourth of
July Celebration” but the spirit of the whole was changed. The old man
in the center was Willard’s own father, a tall, straight, powerful man,
with flowing white locks yet the figure of a man of thirty, without
coat, bare-headed, his white hair blowing in the breeze, his shirt
sleeves loose, marching forward with a step as firm and unhesitating
as the grim and determined look on his face. The face of the old man
shows features which could be kind, but now set like flint in the face
of the enemy--filled with the courage of a man who has put character,
and thought, and prayer into the music through which he utters his
patriotic purpose. Perhaps there is a bit of humor in the figure of the
fifer--it could not be otherwise--for it is a portrait of the fifer
of Wellington, Hugh Mosher. While depicting his humorous face with its
puckered mouth, there is the same air of determination in the figure,
the eyes, and the forward step, that so mark the picture of the old
man. In these characters one sees the spirit of men who will stand and
play until they die, or by their contagious heroism will turn the tide
of battle.
As already stated, for the first few years the painting was known under
the title of “Yankee Doodle.” While the picture was on exhibition in
Boston, Mr. Brainerd, who had charge of the exhibition, suggested
changing the title to “Yankee Doodle, or the Spirit of ’76.” This
suggestion was made because at that time in Boston there was a public
character, a half-wit, who was commonly known about the city as “Yankee
Doodle.” In some curious way, the painting and this half-wit were
being confused in the public mind. This change of title was adopted.
Finally “Yankee Doodle” was dropped entirely and the painting has since
been known under the title of “The Spirit of ’76.”
The Fifer
[Illustration: HUGH MOSHER
who posed as the fifer. From an original photograph made by William F.
Sawtelle of Wellington, Ohio]
The Fifer--Hugh Mosher
When Archibald M. Willard returned home from service in the Civil War,
there came back with him to Wellington his comrade, Hugh Mosher. Mr.
Willard first became acquainted with Mosher after the family moved to
Wellington. They soon became close and lifelong friends. Their service
in the Civil War, in which they were comrades, more closely cemented
this friendship.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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