The Art of Arnold Friberg
- | West Gallery
Open from Tuesday 10 February 2026 - Saturday 14 February 2026, 10am to 5pm and Sunday 15 February 2026, 10am to 2pm.
Free Admission, no booking required.
'The Art of Arnold Friberg, RSA' presents a rare opportunity to encounter one of the most significant royal portraits of the late 20th century, alongside remarkable behind-the-scenes material that reveals the personal story behind its creation. The exhibition also features key works from Friberg’s celebrated Royal Canadian Mounted Police series, which established his international reputation and led to his royal commissions.
At the heart of the exhibition is Friberg’s historic equestrian Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, commissioned in 1990 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Queen is depicted with her beloved horse, Centenial -spelled, at Her Majesty’s insistence, with a single “n.”
“I think that this picture will mean more, say, a hundred years from now, as it passes into the great tradition of royal horse painting. And I feel good, again, about leaving such a picture to the world.”
Though American by birth, Friberg was uniquely trusted for this commission, having produced more than 200 paintings of the RCMP over several decades and having previously portrayed the then Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) with the same horse, Centenial.
Granted the rare honour of a studio in Buckingham Palace, Friberg spent two months working closely with the Queen as she posed both astride Centenial and - between sittings - seated on a simple wooden sawhorse. These sessions revealed a warmth and informality seldom seen in official royal portraiture.
Rare behind-the-scenes photographs from this period are on show, including striking images of Queen Elizabeth II on horseback within the Palace grounds - recently featured in the Daily Mail and the Palace Confidential show - are exhibited with full permission, for the first time in a public gallery setting.
Images provided courtesy of First Freedom Art Company for editorial use only. © 1994 First Freedom Art Company. All rights reserved
Expert Artist Panel Discussion
Complementing the exhibition, Portrait Painting Today: Tradition, Truth, and Relevance takes place on Saturday 14 February at 2.30pm, hosted by renowned curator Dr Alison Smith, with award-winning artists Miriam Escofet, Antony Williams, and Frances Bell.
Attendance is free, no booking required.
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