thepaintingdetails2

In 1976 Barks finished this very special painting, 76-03 July Fourth in Duckburg, saluting the 200th anniversary of the birth of the USA as a nation. It was also the only painting in which Barks showed Cornelius Coot, the town's founder.
The same year Barks explained his thoughts on the work: An annual salute to America by the mythical city's principal citizens, this year made more meaningful by the nation's Bicentennial. Duckburg is not 200 years old, but its 'funny animal' citizens and the tall tales of their doing have been so enthusiastically received by humans everywhere that some historians already consider them worth a note in the pages of America's history. Others seen (besides the Disney characters - editor's remark) are a few of the many notable comic book collectors whose activities have promoted interest and love for the Duckburg ducks wherever comics are sold. It is the fannish 'hustling' by such special people that has kept comic books alive and has nurtured appreciation for the works of comic book artists and writers and publishers. Such fans deserve a place in history, too.

Later that same year Garé and Carl attended their first comic book convention, the New Con in Boston. The highlight of the convention was the auctioning of what was to that time the largest duck oil painting Barks had done, July Fourth in Duckburg. It sold for a then record high amount of 6,400 dollars!!!

PERSONS

1 E. B. Boatner

2 Donald Ault

3 Bruce Hamilton

4 Michael Barrier

5 Donald Phelps

6 Russ Cochran (and son)

7 Glenn Bray

8 Jerry Osborne

9 Anthony Dispoto

10 Robert Overstreet

11 Burrel Rowe

12 Bud Plant

COMMENTS

A Gladstone, Scrooge, and Donald are portrayed as in the famous Centennial (1876) painting The Spirit of '76 by Archibald Willard. Disney used the motif in a few comic book front covers as well - the Mickey Mouse Magazine from July 1939 and WDCS058 from July 1945.

B Ault is carrying a copy of FC0009 Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold.

C Barks playfully made a short listing of the imaginary value of some of his comic books as seen in The Overstreet Price Guide.

D The Clink was a prison in Southwark outside London, England. The name later became a nickname for prison.

E Barks made his rendering of the Statue of Liberty which was erected in New York's harbour in 1886. It is plausible that he used Daisy as the model.

F Flintheart Glomgold is seen waving the South African flag thus establishing him as a citizen from South Africa. This flag was changed in 1994 to the current one.

G Originally, Barks made an error in the spelling of Duckburg by omitting the K. By the time the painting was already finished and framed, and Barks had to make the necessary correction (see also I).

H The newly finished painting 73-01 Blue Persia is displayed in the art gallery.

I After having finished the painting Barks decided to change the policeman's nose from a snout to a button, i.e. from a pig to a bear (see also G).