Arnold Friberg (American, 1913–2010)
The Ten Commandments (Paramount, 1956), “Sephora” Concept Artwork
Oil and pencil on wood
13½ × 21½ in.
Signed lower right: A. Friberg
This striking concept painting presents Sephora as a poised, self-possessed figure, standing against a dark, shallow space that emphasizes her silhouette and bearing. Friberg’s controlled use of light draws attention to the face and flowing white garment, while warm earth tones anchor the figure within a biblical landscape. The pose—one hand at the hip, the other holding a vessel—suggests quiet strength and moral resolve rather than overt drama. Though intended for cinematic development, the work stands on its own as a fully realized character study, balancing narrative clarity with painterly restraint.
Arnold Friberg was an American painter renowned for his religious and historical imagery, as well as his influential contributions to mid-twentieth-century visual culture. In 1956, he played a central role in shaping the visual identity of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, producing character concept paintings and actor studies that helped define costume, gesture, and presence on screen. Trained at the Art Students League of New York, Friberg brought academic discipline and dramatic clarity to both fine art and film, bridging illustration, cinema, and sacred history.
