The Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord by Arnold Friberg

Arnold Friberg (American, 1913–2010)
The Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord
Graphite on paper
13 × 16 inches

This preliminary sketch records Friberg’s early exploration of one of the most pivotal theophanies in the Book of Mormon (Ether 3:6–16). The figure is seen from behind, his body twisting upward in a moment of startled recognition and reverence as he beholds the divine presence. Rapid, layered graphite lines define the torso and raised arm, while other passages remain deliberately unresolved, conveying motion, uncertainty, and awe. The largely unarticulated surrounding space heightens the sense of isolation and encounter, directing attention to gesture and posture rather than setting. Even in this exploratory state, the drawing carries the spiritual gravity that would anchor the finished painting.

Arnold Friberg was an American painter renowned for his powerful religious and historical imagery, particularly works commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Trained at the Art Students League of New York, he combined disciplined academic draftsmanship with a dramatic, cinematic approach to composition and lighting. Friberg is best known for his illustrations for the Book of Mormon and his monumental depictions of prophetic figures, which helped shape a lasting visual language of faith for Latter-day Saint audiences in the twentieth century.