In “The Peaceable Kingdom, 1834,” Edward Hicks portrays a calm coexistence between animals and mankind. A Quaker preacher, Hicks (1780 – 1849) interpreted the Bible’s Book of Isaiah passage in which predators and prey exist harmoniously, as a child leads them in peace. Creating more than 60 paintings based on Isaiah’s prophesy, Hicks inserted an image of William Penn’s truce with the Indians into this work, emphasizing tolerance with calm, brown tones. Hicks was working on this piece for his daughter the night before he died.
One of America’s greatest folk artists, Edward Hicks (1780 – 1849) created sincere, charming works depicting an idealized world of pacifism and peace. Hicks was a Quaker preacher who often painted religious scenes to express his strong faith and to inspire others. Self-taught, he also earned a living by painting signs, carriages and furniture. Hicks created 100 versions of his famous “The Peaceable Kingdom” series, based on Isaiah’s Biblical prophesy—60 of the works still exist. Studied by today's scholars, Hicks’ work is displayed in numerous American museums.