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Friberg, Arnold, 1913-2010

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1913 - 2010

Biographical History

Arnold Friberg (1913-2010) was a famous artist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Arnold Friberg was born December 21, 1913 in Illinois to Sven Friberg and Ingeborg Solberg Friberg. He moved with his family to Arizona when he was three years old, where his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began as a painting apprentice at the age of 13. After high school, Friberg attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, after which he moved to New York, where he studied at the Grand Central School of Art and worked for advertising agencies and painted covers for The Saturday Evening Post and other magazines. He was drafted into the Army during World War II and was asked to work as an artist with the rank of captain. Instead he chose to go into the infantry as an enlisted man. He served in Europe and in the Pacific. He married Hedve Mae Baxter, who died in 1986, and then remarried Heidi Miller Grosskopf in 1989. He had four children (two of which were step-children.)

From early in his career, Friberg was a well-known artist. He received commissions from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to paint images for them, as well as receiving a commission from Cecil B. DeMille to paint advertising images for The Ten Commandments. He is well known among the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for painting scenes from the Book of Mormon. His most famous painting is entitled "Prayer at Valley Forge," and depicts George Washington kneeling in prayer.

Friberg died on July 1, 2010 from complications after hip replacement surgery.

Citation:
Martin, Douglas. "Arnold Friberg, Painter of Historical Scenes, Is Dead at 96." New York Times, July 3, 2010. Accessed April 12, 2013. (born December 21, 1913 in Illinois; moved with his family to Arizona when he was three years old, where his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; began as a painting apprentice at the age of 13; after high school, Friberg attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; moved to New York, where he studied at the Grand Central School of Art, and worked for advertising agencies and painted covers for The Saturday Evening Post and other magazines; drafted into the Army during World War II and was asked to work as an artist with the rank of captain; chose to go into the infantry as an enlisted man; served in Europe and in the Pacific; married Hedve Mae Baxter, who died in 1986, and then remarried Heidi Miller Grosskopf in 1989; received commissions from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to paint images for them, as well as receiving a commission from Cecil B. DeMille to paint advertising images for The Ten Commandments; painted scenes from the Book of Mormon; most famous painting is entitled "Prayer at Valley Forge," and depicts George Washington kneeling in prayer; died on July 1, 2010 from complications after hip replacement surgery.)

Ancestry.com, via WWW. Accessed April 12, 2013. (Arnold Friberg, b. 1913.) (born December 21, 1913 to Sven and Ingeborg Solberg Friberg; married Hedve Mae Baxter; remarried Heidi Miller Grosskopf in 1989; died July 1, 2010.)

WikiPedia.org, via WWW. Accessed April 12, 2013. (most famous image is "Prayer at Valley Forge," born December 21, 1913; moved to Arizona as a kid; attended Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; moved to New York; taught at the University of Utah; married Heidi Miller Grosskopf; has four children.)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Kenneth Madsen collection on Arnold Friberg

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8183
Scope and Contents

Contains materials related to the work of Arnold Friberg. Includes numerous catalogs and pamphlets for ordering Friberg's prints, newspaper articles about Friberg, and some personal papers. Also includes a program from the funeral service of his wife Hedve, a clipping from the Engisn magazine on Friberg, and order forms from Friberg Fine Prints. Other materials include programs from services and ceremonies honoring Friberg. Dated 1973-1994.

Dates: 1973-1994

Filtered By

  • Subject: Fine Arts X
  • Subject: Pamphlets X