Arnold Friberg (American, 1913-2010). In His Own Country, circa 1980. Oil on canvas. 31-1/2 x 44 inches (80.0 x 111.8 cm...

Description

Arnold Friberg (American, 1913-2010)
In His Own Country, circa 1980
Oil on canvas
31-1/2 x 44 inches (80.0 x 111.8 cm)
Signed and inscribed lower right: A. Friberg / RSA
Signed, titled, and inscribed on the reverse: "In his Own Country" Copyright Arnold Friberg-All rights reserved

Property from the Collection of Weider Health and Fitness

PROVENANCE:
Husberg Fine Arts Gallery, Sedona, Arizona.

Arnold Friberg, born in Winnetka, Illinois, in 1913, began his artistic journey at a young age. Raised in Phoenix, he started cartooning at eight and enrolled in a correspondence art course by age ten. His career took off in 1937 when the Northwest Paper Company commissioned him to create a series featuring the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This project required painting horses, a subject Friberg quickly mastered, later recalling, "To me, the picturing of horses is next to worship. I marvel, not only at the anatomy of animals, but also at the anatomy of trees, the whole thing, the design and engineering of it."

Friberg gained widespread recognition for his iconic painting, The Prayer at Valley Forge (Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), which depicts George Washington in prayer during a harsh winter at Valley Forge. Known for his meticulous research and attention to detail, Friberg's historical accuracy became a hallmark of his work. In 1971, he transitioned to Western themes, viewing this shift as a natural extension of his illustrative training. "Most of the best American painters did at least some illustrative work," he explained, adding, "For myself, I have no purpose but to tell a story."

One of Friberg's standout Western works is In His Own Country, a powerful depiction of a Native American chief on horseback against a vast wilderness. The chief, positioned proudly atop his white horse, surveys the rugged terrain, embodying the resilience and heroism of Native American life. Friberg's use of light and shadow enhances the scene's grandeur, while his intricate detailing of the chief's regalia and the horse's anatomy showcases his technical skill.

The painting's composition reflects Friberg's philosophy of filling the canvas with figures, balancing them with just enough landscape to set the scene. "I fill up my pictures with man and animal, and with just enough landscape to identify the setting," he once noted. This technique allows In His Own Country to emphasize the unity between man, animal, and nature, creating a harmonious and powerful narrative of endurance.

Friberg's profound appreciation for nature is evident in his rendering of the gnarled tree behind the chief. Its twisting roots and weathered bark, depicted with the same care as the horse and rider, add a timeless, almost spiritual quality to the scene. The dramatic lighting-soft yet purposeful-enhances the painting's emotional depth, highlighting the solitude and strength of both the figure and the landscape.

In His Own Country exemplifies Friberg's ability to blend narrative and emotion, weaving together themes of survival, solitude, and the deep connection between man and the natural world. The painting stands as a celebration of Native American heroism and the beauty of the untamed wilderness. Through his detailed craftsmanship and storytelling prowess, Friberg solidified his place as one of the foremost painters of the American West, his legacy defined by works that capture both the grandeur and the emotional richness of the subjects he portrayed.




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