By: Ryan Bowman, HAHS President
January 7, 2025
Arnold Friberg's “The Prayer at Valley Forge” (1975).
From the president:
Over the years, Traci and I have compiled quite the collection of fine art prints and originals. As artists ourselves, it just seemed to happen without much thought or effort as the years passed by. Some we’ve purchased at benefit auctions and the like. A few are special treasures discovered at random antique shops in the region.
A handful are our own works or that of family and friends. And yet others are gifts from the same. Of course, just like many of you may own yourselves, some are copies of classic American or world famous prints that we display with pride in our own home. So many in fact, that the few walls in our modest ranch home cannot contain them all on a regular basis. That being said, many of these treasured works of art often find themselves swapped out on a seasonal basis along with many holiday decorations. When the chill of winter sets in and thoughts of Christmas are in the air, one of my favorites finds its way up once again onto our family room wall. Arnold Friberg's “The Prayer at Valley Forge” once again takes an honored place in a spot that any visitor can easily see.
This print is saved for winter display simply because of the downright cold nature of the image. In contains details you can almost feel. Deep in the wilderness at Valley Forge, Washington kneels in the snow, covered by his heavy winter cloak. His brave and alert mount standing beside him, as a plume of steam from its hot breath rises from the nostrils and the waning beams of late day winter sunlight cast their shadows on the barren and frigid landscape. Within this frozen space of time, the great general is shown in the midst of his prayer. His head uncovered in humble approach, showing the respect, he knew well was necessary to show to the receiver of his words.
For me, one of the most striking details found in the artwork is the special attention Friberg gave to Washington's hands. The tense and grasping nature of the interlocking fingers easily conveys the intensity of the founding father's prayer. With close study, one can even notice the pressure being applied has cut off some of the circulation in the fingertips and knuckles. All details, I feel show the overwhelming need that surely Washington felt as he called on the assistance of what he often called “that Divine Providence” there in Valley Forge.
Of course, in our society which has moved away from the faith embraced by the founding
generation and has become more and more secular for decades, there are many who say that George Washington was a deist. That is, someone who believes that the existence of God can be understood through human reason and observation of the natural world, rather than through scripture or supernatural events. However, this argument can be easily debunked by the great study and book compiled by Peter A. Lillback and Jerry Newcombe entitled “George Washington’s Sacred Fire.”
This volume, which encompasses nearly 1000 pages, takes a deep dive into the historical record, looking at Washington’s own letters and writings, letters of his contemporaries, and many other primary sources. It then backs it all up with 192 pages of more than 2,500 citated endnotes. Definitely not your standard beach read, but for those interested, quite the complete detailed account on George Washington's faith, his life as a Christian, and his own public recognition of both.
As much as I appreciate the obvious and empowering message of faith portrayed in Friberg’s
work, I believe my biggest take away from the piece lies in Washington the man.
Although those great men and women did wonderous things, history has far too often held many of the founding generation of America up as gods on earth. This idolization does a great disservice to us as a people, keeping them at a distance from us when what we need to realize is that we come from the same stock. And that we can do the same kind of great things. As the “Prayer at Valley Forge” undoubtedly shows, I believe in life, Washington was well aware of his inability to win the revolution under his own power. He knew his own limitations as a man.
Not only did he see the need to place, as he said, the outcome in the “Hands of Divine Providence,” but he also understood the absolute need of assistance for the small, ragtag army that bled, starved, and struggled in the snow with him that raw winter at Valley Forge. His prayer was not only for victory on that day, not only for the country that he would go on to lead, but also for all those committed patriots and the other leaders there with him. His tenacity, commitment, willingness to help shoulder the burden, his refusal to quit when all the odds were against them, and his act of placing the outcome of it all in the hands of God Almighty should act as a shining example for us all.
I honestly believe that the spirit set forth by Washington and the rest of our founding generation still exists in America today. However, I am by no means naïve. With our current culture that glorifies the grotesque, and normalizes the obscene, it is easy to see that in many cases, those values have not been put into practice for many decades. I do feel though that lying deep beneath the surface in the hearts of all Americans are the roots those founders planted there so long ago. With some care and the use of them in our daily lives, we too can be leaders such as Washington.
So get out in the community and start to live by example, talk with your family and friends on
matters of great importance, begin to learn more about this great country and the local area that we have been blessed to play a small part in, impress and inspire those around you with your willingness to shoulder the burden that in truth, lies there for us all. That is, the burden of CITIZENS - not consumers, NEIGHBORS—not bystanders, BELIEVERS—not doubters, and
that of ACHIEVERS—not simply talkers.
If we begin to do that, just like George Washington, maybe we can make our own difference
here in America. And in the process, get out there—and make history.
Ryan Bowman
January 7, 2025
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