Peter Nicolai Arbo was a famous Norwegian artist who specialized in historical paintings.

Peter was born  on June 18, 1831 in  Gulskogen, Norway. He began his art learning at a school in Copenhagen and then keep on his learning at art academy in Düsseldorf. He also studied art under many great painters, such as Karl Ferdinand Sohn, J. E. Hünthen, as well as C. Mengelberg.

He was appointed a Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1866. He was also a director of the Christiania Art Society from 1882 until his death.