Arnold Friberg
His dramatic paintings of George Washington and biblical epics shaped how millions of Americans picture their history and faith.
1913–2010 (age 97)·American illustrator and painter·Birthday: December 21·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arnold Friberg built a career on muscular, cinematic realism that brought grand narratives to life. After studying at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, he established a studio in Utah, where his detailed, heroic style found a natural home in religious art. His big break came when director Cecil B. DeMille commissioned him to create a series of paintings for 'The Ten Commandments.' These works, used globally to market the film, were so integral to its visual identity that they earned Friberg an Academy Award nomination. He later turned his focus to American history, producing 'The Prayer at Valley Forge' in 1975, an image of Washington kneeling in the snow that became a staple in schools and homes, cementing his role as a visual storyteller for the nation's foundational myths. His art, often criticized by purists for its theatricality, spoke directly to a popular audience hungry for clarity and moral grandeur.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arnold was born in 1913, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arnold Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Arnold's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 80
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2010Died at 97
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for his pre-production paintings used to promote Cecil B. DeMille's 'The Ten Commandments.'
- Created the widely reproduced historical painting 'The Prayer at Valley Forge' in 1975.
- His promotional art for 'The Ten Commandments' was distributed worldwide and defined the film's visual style for audiences.
- Maintained a long career as a commercial and fine artist with work featured in calendars, advertisements, and private collections.
Did You Know?
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and created many works with Mormon themes.
Friberg served as an artist for the U.S. Army's historical division during the Korean War.
He designed the uniform for the NFL's New England Patriots in the 1990s.
Despite his association with epic scales, many of his most famous works were first created as relatively small paintings.
“I paint history, not as it was, but as it should have been.”
