Do you recognize this piece of art?
Odds are pretty good that you do. Perhaps this picture was on the wall at your Grandmother’s house or your home church. You might even have the picture on your wall. It is one of the most reproduced pictures of the 20th Century.
But do you know the story behind it?
Painted by Rhoda Nyberg, this famous portrait is from a photograph taken in 1918 by Mrs. Nyberg’s father, Eric Enstrom, a photographer from Bovey, Minnesota.
Popular evangelical blogger Justin Taylor recently did some research on the famous piece and here is what he discovered… (the rest of this post is word-for-word from Justin Taylor’s original post at The Gospel Coalition website):
Is it a photo or a painting?
It was originally a photo, and it was later painted in oils.
What’s the name of the painting?
“Grace.”
Who is the man in the photo?
Charles Wilden, a peddler who sold foot-scrapers.
What year was it taken?
1918.
Who took the photo?
Eric Enstrom.
Where was it taken?
In Enstrom’s photography studio in Bovey, Minnesota.
What happened?
Wilden, selling foot-scrapers, called upon Enstrom. Enstrom was in the midst of preparing a portfolio of photos for the upcoming Minnesota Photographer’s Association convention. Wilden agreed to be photographed, and Enstrom arranged a table with a bread, a knife, a bowl of gruel, spectacles, and a Bible, asking Wilden to bow in prayer. Enstrom later said, “I wanted to take a picture that would show people that even though they had to do without many things because of the war they still had much to be thankful for.”
Who did the oil painting?
Enstrom’s daughter, Mrs. Rhoda Nyberg of Coleraine, Minnesota. She painted numerous paintings of the original photo.
What about the similar picture of the old woman bowed in prayer?
It, too, is a photo, called “Gratitude,” taken in the 1960s by Jack Garren, who owned a Christian bookstore in Centralia, Illinois. The subject is Mrs. Myrtle Copple (d. 1975), and the photo was designed to complement “Grace.” The two are often packaged together: “Grace and Gratitude.”
soundoftruth.org 
Hi is the painting by Rhonda Nyberg in oil valuable The praying man GRACE
I bc have a replica in oil that a man my mom dated when she was younger . Ironically his name was Charles .
is oil painting valuable Grace
I love this photo I love the meaning behind it. It has been on my husbands home place wall for at least 50 yrs. GOD BLESS YOU FOR SHAREING YOUR 🎁 WITH ME AND THE WORLD god bless you. Crystal crisp dalton GA.
Tyrone, I’m not sure if it is valuable or not.
I have this picture in my home that I found in a yard sale. I love it and am so happy to find information behind this treasured picture.
Marilyn, I’m not seeing this picture near as much as when I was a young person. In fact, I’m not sure I can name a home in which this classic is on the wall. Glad to know there is at least one home out there that still recognizes the simple beauty of this work of art.
Thanks for commenting!
I have this picture on my wall it was passed to me by my mom!
I have in dining room in my home. I bought in 1976 when my husband was stationed in Germany and I was staying with my parents in Kentucky. I bought it at the Dollar store for $3. It’s 16×20 with s9lid wood frame under glass. The painting of The old woman saying Grace was also available but I did not purchase as I didn’t have enough cash on hand. No debit/credit cards in those days and I didn’t have checkbook with me. When I finally had chance to go back and purchase, but it was gone. I’ve always regretted not returning that same afternoon. A guest commented on it this weekend and prompted me to once again look up old woman. I found but for some reason, what painting looks like and what I thought it looked like are different. Of course that was almost 50 years ago. Anyway, I love the painting and if I move again it will go with me to hang.
I have this picture hanging on my wall right now and fpund it at a yard sale and come to find out this is the exact picture that my grandma and grandpa had hanging in our kitchen at the dinner table pretty crazy to have this picture years later .
Stil leave it hanging in my house . Love it
Prints of this man and the one of the woman praying are and have been displayed on my in-laws’ wall since I can remember. And, my in-law’s were both from Minnesota. We all love these paintings.
I love it but fear that no one else will when I am gone. But, that’s the way life goes!
I just got this at an Estate sell today. Have been looking for one for a while now. So glad I found it!
Our family and the families of our three daughters all have one on their walls. My mother had one too as it reminded her so much of her humble Swiss grandfather. Thank you for the information.
Make it two! My husband grew up seeing it on his grandparents home when he saw it in a garage sale he bought it!
You will be happy to know that I know of 3 others. I first saw the picture when I got married almost 20 years ago. Two of my sister-in-law’s displayed it. I just saw a Christmas picture of a friend on facebook and in the background was Grace! I asked her if she had any background on it and she did! I was thrilled and looked up more information then as I had something to go on. So, there are 4 of us, Brett that I know of.
I have that painting at my house
Nice! It’s been on the wall of my hometown church since I was a baby. There was a man in the church that looked like that and I always thought the picture was of him.
I have two of Grace and one of Gratitude displayed in my home. Though I do not recall seeing either in anybody else’s home.
5, I have both Grace and Gratitude above my dining room table…in the mid to late 60’s my aunt had Grace above her kitchen table… I loved pretending he was having a snack with me… In the 90’s I ran across Gratitude at a book store and passed her by… A couple years ago while going through my husband’s late aunt’s estate I found Grace but in very poor condition. However, it put me on a hunt for Gratitude…I mentioned it to a few family members and last year for Christmas I received beautiful new copies of both… they are now in matching frames and will forever hang above my table…I may even someday, once again pretend that we are having a snack together! I love them!
What a wonderful story, I cherish mine of Grace!
I have and love them. I too have them in my dining room. I can’t imagine them not being there. Thank you for the info. Beautiful stories for the pictures.
i have grace been hanging in my dinning room. i bought it in the 80’s from a lady who sold it because it belonged to her husbands deceased wife
It was an act of grace for you to take off her hands, or a lack of grace causing her to get rid of it! Thanks for sharing, Connie.
My grandparents are 92 and moved “to town” this past fall. I asked for and was given their copy of “Grace.” It is in the original frame and has a paper thin backing. I also received their kitchen table and chairs, which I found out they purchased when they married, 65+ years ago. They would have been young children when this photograph was taken and I’m kind of in awe about having it in my own tiny kitchen. It is definitely a reminder to be thankful for what I have.
4 years later and I finally got a copy of Gratitude to go with Grace. They are placed next to my wine rack with a wall art saying “there is always something to be thankful for.” I see this wall every day, several times a day and it never gets old.
I also just inherited Grace from my 92 year old grandfather that just recently passed away. It was left hanging as no one else wanted it. I couldn’t leave it behind and was pleased no one else wanted it. It has been hanging in there home of 73 years. I’m not sure how long they have had it or where they bought it but I at 46 years old always remember it. So peaceful and humbling. I am interested in any other history you may have on it. I am interested in which ones are originals or copies. Not that it changes its warmth, just Curious
Tamara, sorry about your grandfather. I hope the painting brings you much joy and hope each time you see it. I am by no means an expert on the painting and really don’t know much about originals or copies. I would guess that there is only one original out there, but have no idea where it is or what it is worth. Sorry I’m not of more help. Thanks for visiting my blog. Come back often.
My mother loved both of these paintings and longed to have a copy of them. I found them for her by fluke one day and she had them hanging in her diningroom for years. She died about 13 years ago and the pictures were supposed to come to me, but my dad couldn’t part with them until two years ago when he said I could take them home with me. They now hang side by side in my kitchen and they are truly an inspiration in and of themselves and a loving reminder of my mother. Thank you for sharing the history of them–now they mean even more!
Connie,
Thanks for sharing your story. Perhaps these are becoming meaningful family heirlooms that you can pass along as well someday!
Pastor Brett
We found a different one 1st that is would swear was the same guy reading a bible but i cant find it on here then next day came across “grace” in a thrift store. Any ideas on the other picture looks like the same guy with glasses on readying the bible
Sorry, Sadie, I don’t know. Perhaps someone else reading this will.
Turns out he is a man of mystery, of sorts, if we define mystery as something we don’t know much about. His name was Charles Wilden and two historians of the photo say nobody knows where Wilden came from, where he was born or where he died; wherever it was, it apparently was without any family. The man behind the giant, black-shrouded camera was a Swedish immigrant who was in his early 40s when he asked Wilden to pose in his studio in Bovey, Minn., between Grand Rapids and Hibbing in the middle of the state’s Iron Range and timber country.
His name is Jonathan L Calkins he is my great grandfather and the picture was taken at Campmeeting. My family has the original snapshot. There has been a lot of dispute over the picture personally I think because it being so famous there is an issue of royalties.I don’t really care I just would like to have the record set straight.
The book near the man is not the bible, but a dictionary. The actual book and photo release form is in a Museum in MN.
Interesting, Lina. Makes sense…looks more like a dictionary than a Bible! Thanks for the info.
are these two pictures copywrited? I wuld love to have copies made ont belgian linen canvas . Do I need permission? if so from whom?
Nicholas, I’m not sure about the copyright status of these pieces. I’m assuming they are in the public domain but not sure. I tried to go to the Contact info page on the family’s website but the url was not working. Perhaps you can try. Here’s the website: http://www.gracebyenstrom.com/
Sorry for the delay in answering your question!
Always thankful to know the story behind wonderful art. On Monday, I’m posting the picture on my blog with a link to your post. http://raiseyoureyes.dreamhosters.com/?p=640
Published February 27, 2012, 08:29 PM
Man in famous ‘Grace’ photo mystifies historians
The death last week of Rhoda Nyberg, the daughter of photographer Eric Enstrom, poured light again on the famous image her father took of a white-bearded peddler bowed in prayer at a table, a photo that Nyberg famously colored.
By: Stephen J. Lee, Grand Forks Herald
The death last week of Rhoda Nyberg, the daughter of photographer Eric Enstrom, poured light again on the famous image her father took of a white-bearded peddler bowed in prayer at a table, a photo that Nyberg famously colored.
Perhaps the big question one gets from the image seen in so many homes is who is that guy?
Turns out he is a man of mystery, of sorts, if we define mystery as something we don’t know much about.
His name was Charles Wilden and two historians of the photo say nobody knows where Wilden came from, where he was born or where he died; wherever it was, it apparently was without any family.
The man behind the giant, black-shrouded camera was a Swedish immigrant who was in his early 40s when he asked Wilden to pose in his studio in Bovey, Minn., between Grand Rapids and Hibbing in the middle of the state’s Iron Range and timber country.
That was about 1920. In 1926, Wilden signed over all his rights to the photo to Enstrom for $5, according to a receipt from Enstrom’s family, said Lilah Crowe, executive director of the Itasca County Historical Society in Grand Rapids where the camera and the receipt and several copies of the photo are held.
Nothing else of Wilden.
Legends, stories
“Charles fell off the map,” said Crowe, who once worked in Enstrom Studio and now gives popular presentations on the photo. “We have not found where he died.”
She thinks he was born in Sweden, like Enstrom, because Enstrom’s children remember the two “chatting away in Swedish,” Crowe said Monday.
Maybe not, says another historian of the photo.
“He remains a very, very elusive figure,” said Don Boese, St. Paul, retired history professor at Itasca Community College who researched Wilden and the photo, publishing articles and a booklet on it all. “Researching him is finding all kinds of legends and all kinds of stories and more non-answers than there are answers.”
“He moved to the Grand Rapids area sometime before 1920 and where he came from exactly or where his roots are, it’s not possible to say,” Boese said Monday. “He doesn’t appear in the Minnesota census.”
Many accounts date the photo at 1918. But Boese said Nyberg, born in 1917, told him she remembered seeing it taken, so he figures it was 1920 or so.
“It just appealed to people,” Boese said. “Later, when Enstrom answered questions about it, he said in the wake of World War I, he was looking for something that would represent still being thankful. But Enstrom never put down a thorough account of where he was coming from so many mythologies have crept in.”
Ne’er do well
Many remark on the humility the subject displays in his bowed head and the tired, penitent slump of his arms and folded hands.
Wilden had a lot to be humble about.
“He was living in a very primitive sod hut near Grand Rapids, eking out a very precarious living,” Boese said. “He was going door to door selling various sundries. One was a boot–scraper. That’s how Enstrom encountered him. Enstrom looked at him and Enstrom was a really good photographer and saw features in him he thought were outstanding.”
(Crowe says Enstrom also is famous for being the first to photograph Judy Garland, before she was 3 and was still Frances Gumm in Grand Rapids.)
The thick book on the table was not a Bible, as many think and even the receipt from Wilden describes it, but a dictionary belonging to Enstrom, Boese said.
One of the misconceptions was that the man in the photo was a pious, even saintly, Christian, Boese said. “The stories about him centered more around drinking and not accomplishing very much.”
The single piece of official documentation he did find on Wilden was a divorce decree.
“Very soon after he arrived in Grand Rapids, he married a woman from Grand Rapids in 1920,” Boese said. “Very soon, he and that woman divorced and she would never talk about what happened. Her descendants knew only in vague terms of that marriage.”
The woman re-married and had children. Her granddaughters, in fact, visited Crowe some years ago at the Historical Society’s museum in Grand Rapids.
“They asked some questions,” Crowe said. “They knew their grandmother had never gotten along with him well. She was from the Deer River area.”
Boese said “the story was passed down to the family that one of them put the picture up in his house and that brought severe recriminations upon him from this (ex-wife.)”
Famous nobody
Ironically, for someone who has left no family or known history, Wilden’s image in the photo brought forth countless people over the years claiming he was a relative, Crowe and Boese say.
None panned out.
A decade ago, Boese interviewed an elderly man in St. Paul who had a credible story of knowing Wilden as a young boy.
“This person remembers his house, remembers when his mother, when she was baking bread, made an extra loaf for Wilden, who very much appreciated it because he had so little.”
Augsburg Fortress Press made a deal with Enstrom about 1930 to use the photograph, in Sunday school materials and a myriad of prints and photo. Enstrom had income of that his whole life, and his children after his death, although it wasn’t enough to live on, Crowe said.
Boese said Enstrom, once he started making money with the photo, tried to find Wilden with no success.
“I was in Ukraine some years ago, in Kiev, walking down the street and in this window, there was that picture hanging on the wall,” Boese said. “Here’s a guy whose face has become famous literally the world over… a face so known of someone of who we know practically nothing.”
Reach Lee at (701) 780-1237; (800) 477-6572, ext. 237; or send email to slee@gfherald.com.
In answer to Sadies question above, the other print is “Grace” by Michael San Fratello. I am thankful in that I have all three…
We always saw Grace and Gratitude as separate pictures but were able to find it in one frame at a Christian book store with the prayer from 1 Chro. 16:34 between them. It, too, hangs above my dining room table.
That’s the first I’ve heard of such a combination, but it makes a lot of sense. Perfect verse for it, too! ” O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (1 Chron. 16.34, KJV). Thanks, Kathy, for sharing!
It is I my dinning room wall also it is the ultimate photo to shoes graditude for what we are blessed with each day
I am seeking information on the painter whom Sadie described since it sounds like the picture that hangs in our Sunday school classroom. It is signed Michael Sanfratello. I’d like to do an article for our church newsletter as the congregational historian.
I first saw these prints at age 4 in a neighbors home. At age 30 my wife gave me a fine set of them. A few years later we gave them to friends when we went to Africa as missionaries. Now, years later, we are back and I’m looking for another set. They are getting hard to find. Thanks for the background info.
i have both of these original frames Grace has stamped on back of frame #l126 and Gratitude has #125 both have stickers alike that say DICKENS SEYMOUR,INDIANA Pictures of Distinction inscribed also on same sticker I purchased one at a garage sale and found the matching one later at a thrift store have had 40 years now above my table love the history of them more now thanks
thanks
I recently acquired a copy of Grace from a friend. My grandparents had one hanging in their dining area off their sun porch years ago. I was a child but when I saw it yesterday I remembered it right away and had to have it. Thanks Debbie.
Back in 1969 I met an elderly sign painter by the name of George Wear or Ware. He told me that he was the man in this picture. He said he was only paid $25.00 to pose for this. I also had this picture hanging in my home. No matter if he was the original man or not, he has and will always be in my heart as this dear sole. Yes of course I have repeated this story to all my friends and family. Am I embarrassed, never.
Ehats the value of an original Grace painting?
Good question, Jared. I’m not sure.
Wouldn’t there be only one “original”?Correct me if I’m wrong. Or do you mean the value of “the” original ? I’m confused or are you?
There’s a few more I have one of grace my mother has two of grace and one gratitude
My Baba and Dedo had this painting in their kitchen since I was a little boy, they have since passed but I recently found an old copy of the print at a garage sale. Brings back so many memories. During my search of the print I have noticed several times the book is a dictionary not a bible ?
Does anyone know how much an actual oil painting of Grace is worth? Never heard of Gratitude. What does it look like?
Sorry for the delay, Kerri. If you will google the words “Grace,” “Gratitude,” and “Enstrom” and click on “Images” you will see a picture of an older lady bowed in prayer. You will also notice that the two images are often brought together in one frame.
I have one grace painting from sears roebuck and would like to know if there is any value or not?
Sumner, I highly doubt it. As one of the most reproduced images in American history, I would assume it’s value is mostly to the owner.
Absolutely to me…. That is my Great Grandma
Hello I am Joni Garren and Jack Garren was my Dad’s cousin… Jack would be my 2nd cousin. The lady in Jack Garren’s picture is my Great Grandma. I actually have a copy of Jack’s original . I am so thankful to Jack Garren for his legacy of my family. A Christian legacy of Gratitude and Grace. RIP my Sweet Jack and I will see you and my Daddy Robert again.
I have the picture of “Grace” hanging on my kitchen wall. Its been there since the early 80s. Guess it always will be. There’s really not room for “Graditude” or I would add it also.Whatever the story behind the picture, the message it sends is priceless.
I have the picture “gratitude” that I inherited from my mother and proudly display it. The lady in the picture looks exactly like my grandma Hubert She was from E. St. Louis, IL and lived in surrounding area in her later years. Passed away in 1966. I like to think it is her in the picture even though they say it is someone else. My mother said a man came around and took pictures like this and she felt it was her also. No matter; I love the picture!
Ladies, and Gentlemen, I’ve read some of the comments about “GRACE” & “GRATITUDE”. Very Very Beautiful paintings indeed. And I Love the message in the paintings. Which is
Much more important to me than who painted it, or Who took the picture. But it is good to set the record straight about the origins of It. Just don’t forget to be grateful and Remember God’s Grace, cause without it none of us would be here to enjoy these two
Very Beautiful reminders.
I have a copy of the Grace picture, hand painted (colored) by Mary Margret. One of the first I imagine. Engstrom also took all of my baby pictures and that of my brother and sisters staring in 1940.
I have always admired this picture just ordered a print to hang near my dining table. I wish I had the oil painting. Its a beautiful painting and I feel the realness of it because of the history behind it. I never knew the story . Now that I know the history behind the picture makes me love it even more.
Thanks, Valerie, for sharing!
I too have a copy of the picture “Grace” I just love it, now I am on the look out for “Gratitude.” My friend has a larger picture of Grace and when I seen it , i just had to have it too, is the picture of the woman just as popular? Also did I just read that there is a picture of a child, boy or girl? That would also be nice to have as well.. Thank You !!!
I’ve had Grace in my home for at least 10 years, got him at a yard sale, hoping to find Gratitude of course, just tonight decided to google it and guess what there she is, I will have her soon.
A Ex-Roommates Mother , Gave Me This Picture , GRACE , On Her Death Bed , To Remember Her , 16 Years Ago … In August 2020 , New Roommates / Drug Addicts Stole The Picture From Me … I Miss The GRACE Picture , After Seeing It Everyday …
We found a matched set of large framed paintings in a Christian Bookstore in Charleston WV in the early 80’s. Grace and Gratitude. They have adorned one wall of our dining room since then. Our daughters cannot remember a time when these pictures were not prominently displayed in our house. The Lord’s Supper is on the other wall. Very glad to (finally) learn the story behind the photo/paintings. Thanks for providing the info. Also enjoyed hearing that many other people still have these pictures displayed. Reliance Baptist Church in Bryan TX has Grace hanging in their fellowship hall. When I mentioned that I have the matching picture they were shocked to find out there was one.
We had this hanging up in our dining room growing up in Ohio. This past summer I traced back to Ohio and saw that my nephew now has one as well. It is such a powerful piece.
I have the Grace picture, it appears to be a painting – no glass. It hung in my Grandparents home and then my dad’s – Milwaukee, WI. When he passed, no one wanted it so I took it – my score 🙂 I feel it is a spiritual piece to remind us to always live in Grace.
My grandma and grandpa always had Grace hanging over their kitchen table. I recall seeing it there the whole time I was growing up. When I got married, they asked me what I wanted for a wedding gift, and I told them I would like The Praying Man picture. So my husband and I received it as a wedding gift, That was in 1975. I am just now taking it in to be reframed so it will last another 47 years! It’s so special!
I text my Aunt and she said they had papers from my great aunt Louis, my grandmother’s sister that is who he was. They settled in Sevierville from England, but I’m not sure we’re he was from, it could have been Swenden because he was a Walling. My grandmother Howard. A lot of our family are from those areas! Such as Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland and my father’s Germany ! A lot of the family are passed. But I will try to find out more information. Sincerely, His GraceTimothy Ray Howard-Wilfong Duke of Essex and Katharienburg United Kingdom.
I have this picture in my dining room