Who painted The Spirit of '76, a famous image associated with U.S. independence celebrations?

Archibald Willard painted The Spirit of '76, a famous image associated with U.S. independence celebrations.

Willard was an Ohio artist and former Union soldier who created the painting in 1875 for the upcoming Centennial Exposition. The work shows three Revolutionary War-era figures: a fife player, a drummer, and a second drummer.

The painting was originally titled Yankee Doodle. It acquired the name The Spirit of '76 while it was being exhibited in Boston, and that title became much more familiar. The image later became strongly associated with patriotic celebrations, including the 1976 Bicentennial.

The painting is sometimes confused with John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence, which depicts the presentation of the draft Declaration to Congress. They are separate works by different artists and show different scenes.