Friberg's most famous painting was produced in 1975, depicting George Washington praying at Valley Forge.
"Sometimes when he's painting he almost feels like his own hand is being guided by a force stronger than his own self," said Arnold's daughter-in-law Jayna Friberg-Cleamons
A copy of the George Washington painting was presented by Friberg to President George W. Bush during a visit to Utah for the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
Friberg was also commissioned to paint portraits of the British royal family, including Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II.
Friberg is also known for his paintings of scenes from the Book of Mormon.
Friberg was born in Illinois, and his family joined the LDS Church after moving to Arizona. He studied art alongside fellow student Norman Rockwell at the Grand Central School of Art. He previously studied art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.
Friberg also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
After marriage, Friberg worked in San Francisco before moving to Utah in 1950 where he taught art at the University of Utah. A short time later, Friberg briefly lived in Hollywood while creating his paintings for
The Ten Commandments.
Friberg continued painting in his Salt Lake City studio late into his life.
Fraughton says Friberg was still passionate about art days before he died. He recalls this conversation from a few weeks ago, "Arnold said, 'Ed I don't know what to do with my time' and I said, 'I said what do you mean.' He said, 'Well I don't know how much of it I've got left and it keeps ticking by, but I've got all these things I want to do.'"
A few weeks before hid death "The Utah Cultural Arts Foundation" formed. It has a mission to preserve Friberg's paintings for hundreds of years.
