Peaceable Kingdom 1847

Edward Hicks, a self-taught American folk painter and Quaker minister, created this allegorical painting, Peaceable Kingdom. Hicks made over 60 versions of the same title, each reflecting the historical and social contexts of the United States in the early 19th century. The image is derived from a passage in the Book of Isaiah, depicting a utopian world where wild animals and humans live in harmony. Note William Penn’s treaty with the Lenape Indians in the background, symbolizing peace and cooperation. Hicks employs this scene to comment on the social structures of his time, particularly the fraught relations between European settlers and Native Americans. As a Quaker, Hicks was deeply involved in social reform movements, including abolition and temperance. His paintings can be seen as a critique of the violence and exploitation that characterized the westward expansion of the United States. To understand Hicks' vision fully, we can consult Quaker records, historical accounts of Penn’s treaty, and studies of American social reform movements. These resources provide insights into the meaning of art as something contingent on social and institutional context.