An iconic artwork showing George Washington in prayer has become a focal point in debates about the religious beliefs of America’s founding fathers, but scholars are raising questions about the historical accuracy of the scene it portrays.
The Trump administration has pointed to the 1975 painting “The Prayer at Valley Forge” by Arnold Friberg as support for claims that the nation’s founders were deeply religious Christians. The artwork, created for America’s bicentennial celebration in 1976, shows Washington kneeling in prayer during the Revolutionary War.
Despite its popularity among conservative Christian groups, historians express skepticism about whether the moment depicted in the painting ever actually occurred. The artwork has become a symbol in ongoing discussions about the relationship between faith and government in American history.
