The artwork titled “Peaceable Kingdom,” created by Edward Hicks in 1825, is a part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and falls under the genre of religious painting. It belongs to the “Peaceable Kingdom” series.
In the artwork, a serene and harmonious scene unfolds. A child stands centered, embodying innocence and peace, surrounded by an array of animals including a lion, lamb, leopard, and calf, symbolizing tranquility as they cohabit peacefully. The juxtaposition of such typically predatory and timid creatures challenges the natural order, evoking a sense of divine peace and prophecy. On the left side of the artwork, a group of people can be seen engaging peaceably with Native Americans, representing redeeming unity among different cultures. The background features a picturesque, calming landscape under a vast, blue sky, enhancing the idyllic and utopian vision of universal harmony Hicks sought to depict. The text surrounding the artwork emphasizes the biblical prophecy from Isaiah 11:6, encapsulating the theme of peaceful coexistence and guiding moral leadership by a child.
