Peaceable Kingdom
c. 1834
Edward Hicks, a Quaker minister and self-taught painter, created over sixty versions of this charming scene to illustrate the biblical prophecy of predators and prey living in harmony. In the foreground, a lion, ox, and leopard peacefully lounge alongside playful children, completely ignoring their natural instincts. Meanwhile, tucked away in the background, Hicks painted a historical moment dear to his heart: William Penn signing a treaty with the Lenape Native Americans, representing his own hope for human peace. It’s a delightful, slightly naive folk art masterpiece that perfectly captures the optimistic spirit of early 19th-century America.
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