Peaceable Kingdom, c. 1834

Edward Hicks, painter and Quaker minister, painted more than 100 of these “Peaceable Kingdoms.” His motivation for painting them is said to be a reaction to strife in the Quaker church at the time (!). Hicks went on painting his visions of peace throughout his life, but the conflicts persisted. As expressed by Carolyn J. Weekley, director of museums for Colonial Williamsburg, “Toward the end of his life, the animals become dispersed, not organized together as they used to be. Finally, they fall to the bottom of the canvas, all facing different directions with no unity…”