loading
From drummer boy to Yale man
For Independence Day: Archibald Willard’s 1876 painting The Spirit of ’76 became an American icon after it was exhibited at the nation's centennial exhibition in Philadelphia. As we reported in our March 15, 1929, issue, the model for the young drummer at left in the painting went on to be a Yale College graduate: H. K. Devereux ’83S. When Willard was in search of a drummer boy for his painting, he attended an exhibition drill at a military prep school in Cleveland. Devereux, a 14-year-old student at the school, was captain of one of the teams demonstrating their maneuvers, and Willard must have liked the cut of of his jib. Fifty years later in 1926, Devereux recalled the experience as “a number of visits to Willard’s studio where hours were passed in rather a trying way for a boy.” But as the work continued, he became enthusiastic about the project. When he went with his family to Philadelphia to see the finished painting on display, he recalled, “always there was a crowd in front of the picture and many if not most of the people had perceptible tears rise to their eyes as they stood and gazed.” After Yale, Devereux went into his father's railroad business; besides his short career as an artist's model, he was best known for his contributions to harness racing. Devereux's father bought the original painting and gave it to his hometown of Marblehead, Massachusetts, where the work is still displayed in the town hall. 
The comment period has expired.
|
Print
Email
