Archibald Willard originally titled his famous painting The Spirit of ’76 Yankee Doodle.
Willard created the painting in 1875 for the Centennial Exposition, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It depicts three Revolutionary War figures marching forward: an older drummer, a younger fifer, and a boy carrying a flag.
The work was initially intended to be semi-humorous, but Willard’s father served as the model for the older figure and died before the painting was completed. That loss contributed to the more serious and determined tone associated with the finished image.
The painting acquired the name The Spirit of ’76 while it was exhibited in Boston. It is often confused with the broader phrase “Spirit of ’76,” which refers to a patriotic sentiment as well as to the artwork. The original title was specifically Yankee Doodle.