George Washington - Valley Forge

Artist's Notes about
"The Prayer at Valley Forge"

Arnold Friberg writes, "Since I was a boy, I have revered General Washington. At age twelve I drew what I thought a fine picture of him astride his white horse. Along with learning the American legend of his praying at Valley Forge, this deep inspiration of boyhood was never to leave me.

And so it was that I waited many years to picture him again, in prayer now, in the snow, dismounted from his strong horse - only this time in the full power and richness of oil colors.

To prepare for this painting, to insure accuracy in trees and landscape, I made a pilgrimage to Valley Forge, in the dead of winter. In the summer the place is filled with visitors. But now, in the snows of February, it was deserted, the wind moaning through the great trees - silent, lonely, cold. It was a cold that chilled to the bone, a cold that froze my fingers until I could no longer sketch nor even snap my camera.

To insure accuracy in man-made things, I sought out whatever museums, collections, libraries, or informed individuals could offer on horse gear or uniform. At the Smithsonian Military History Museum, I made minutely accurate sketches from the very uniform actually worn by Washington. As for facial likeness, I studied every portrait ever sketched, carved, or painted from life, but always keeping in mind how cold and rawboned he must have looked during that winter encampment. But such research, vital as it is, provides only physical facts. What I really tried for was, through the medium of paint, to recall the pain, the cold of that cruel winter of 1777-78.

I sought to pay tribute to the tall and heavy-burdened man who alone held our struggling nation together. For while the British grew fat and warm and well fed in Philadelphia, it was the man Washington who stayed with his starving and freezing army through that dreadful winter at Valley Forge. It was in desperation that he wrote to the governor of New Jersey, "Our sick naked, our well naked, our unfortunate men in captivity naked!" With his own countrymen indifferent to their condition, where else could he turn but to God?

It should be plain to anyone that this is a symbolic picture, rather than a historically recorded event. The well known American legend is without documentation. But from Washington's own words there can be no doubt of his deep and humble dependence upon whom he chose to call "that all wise and powerful Being on whom alone our success depends."

It is my hope that coming through this picture will once again whisper the spirit of Valley Forge, of suffering and devotion and pain, of liberty, and of the hand of God in the affairs of men."

Secure ORDERING PAGE for
"The Prayer at Valley Forge" by Arnold Friberg

Any information given by you on this page is encrypted when sent over the internet for your protection.

Ordering Options (view even more options):

prayer at valley forge Unframed Gallery Edition Print, Your Price $99 (Standard shipping, USPS Priority Mail, within the continental US: $16). Available - usually ships within 1 business day of ordering and arrives in 3 to 5 business days to most locations.

A beautiful lithograph on archival paper ready for you to take to your local frame shop for custom framing.

Overall Size: 31-1/2"W x 21-1/2"H, Image Size: 27-1/2"W x 17"H.

Includes portfolio (print holder), certificate of authenticity, and 5" x 1-1/2" brass plaque with the following quotation spoken by George Washington in his farewell address as he resigned his commission as General of the Continental Army on December 28, 1783: "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of the Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His Holy keeping."

Framed Open Edition Print. Your Price $225 (plus $30 for shipping, handling & insurance to any location in the U.S.). Available - shipped to you directly from the artist's frame shop (please allow approximately 2 weeks for delivery). If you need it faster, please call 360-330-0195 for faster shipping options.

Our most popular version of this print comes matted in a warm cobblestone blue-gray, with a brass plaque insert, all under protective glass. It arrives ready to hang on the your wall or present as a special gift.

Framed Dimensions: 36"W x 28"H; Image Size: 24"W x18"H; Matte Color: Cobblestone; Molding: 2-1/4" Mahogany; Brass Plaque: 5" x 1-1/2" with the following quotation spoken by George Washington in his farewell address as he resigned his commission as General of the Continental Army on December 28, 1783: "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of the Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His Holy keeping."

prayer at valley forge Open Edition Framed Giclée Canvas. Your Price $599.00 (plus $30 for shipping, handling & insurance to any location in the U.S.). This Giclee is the truest and richest reproduction available of the artist's original work! Available - shipped to you directly from the artist's frame shop (please allow approximately 2 weeks for delivery). If you need it faster, please call 360-330-0195 for faster shipping options.

This giclée presentation is absolutely stunning. It's brass title plaque reads "The Prayer at Valley Forge by Arnold Friberg" It is framed with a light brown suede liner surrounded by warm medium brown wood with subtle copper and deep brown highlighting complementing the wood and metal tones within the painting itself. It arrives ready to hang on your wall, or to give as a special gift.

Framed Dimensions: 38.5"W x 26"H, Image only dimensions: 31.5"W x 19.5"H. The term Giclée (jhee-clay) is French and means "to spray ink." A Giclée print is a scanned image printed directly from special high resolution inkjet printer onto canvas creating the truest and richest reproduction available of the artist's original work.

SALES TAX: Washington State residents will pay an additional 7.8% for sale tax.

I AM PAYING BY:

Special Note: All information on this page is encrypted from your computer to ours using Secure Socket Layering (SSL), so your private information is secure.

Credit / Debit Card Number:

Exp. Date:

Name on Card:

PLEASE SHIP TO (must be a street address in the U.S. only, no PO numbers):

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Day Phone (include area code):

Eve Phone (include area code):

Email:

Commercial address; Residential address.

A division of The GOOD BOOK Company
302 N. Washington Ave., Centralia, WA 98531-2831, U.S.A.

Fax Order Line: (360) 330-0195

Phone Order Line: 360-330-0195