Show famous picture done by ohioan TtO BABLY 99 90 of every persons who have seen replicas of the famous painting I 1 spirit of ig are under the impression it vaas a as done during or soon after the revolutionary lutio nary war they are in error according to a writer in the washington post it was years yeara later that archibald M willard carried out the conception of a friend and adviser by putting on canvas the trio of homespun appear ing musicians of three distinct age levels drumming and fifing fifine as they marched across a battlefield an article by john huntington dev erem breux in a bulletin of the national society of the sons of the american revolution says that An undoubtedly 75 per cent of the people of the united states are familiar by sight with reproductions of the painting its reproductions probably have been available in more homes than reproductions of any other painting produced by an american artist needless to say it has hag aroused widespread and continued interest mr devereux declares yet tet in spite of the acquaintance of numbers wath v th the masterpiece very few have much knowledge of it very little Is written of it few know its history hl story willard WU lard the painter a chip of old yankee stock was born in bedford ohio august 22 la 2836 a the spirit of ag G depicts a crisis on a battlefield first a retreat took place the broken cannon and the dying soldier in the foreground show where the line stood out of the retreat came the trio of musicians with their music thrilling new courage in the hearts of their comrades the flag and line have changed direction and the forces are ready as one to charge back against the enemy defeat Is about to become victory after being exhibited at the centennial exposition at philadelphia where it became nationally known and in several other cities the painting was purchased by general devereux Dev creux and presented to marblehead ble bead head mass the town of his birth |