Edward Hicks: Painting Analysis

As you approach the painting in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, you see a group of monstrous looking animals large eyed and oddly shaped, almost appearing cartoon like. The animals are gather in a forest of dark greens. They are sitting with child like humans that are cloaked in white. The colors that make up these animals are nothing extraordinary, very dull softs browns, whites, and grays. There is a lion like animal which appears to be the main focus, his tan eyes stare deep at you as you observe the painting. His face is quite larger than what you assume a lion looks like, and his mane smaller than a normal lines. He and another animal are being touched by one of the child like humans. Next to the lion is a bull like animal with …show more content…
The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Bible: New International Version). He set out to create an image that incorporated Quakers and Pennsylvania. The people gathered in the back are gathered around William Penn, and Hicks did this to capture the treaty with the Indians of what was to become Pennsylvania ( Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts). This painting originally acted as a visual sermon for Hick to use when discussing this message with his …show more content…
The religious aspect is brought about by the whimsical animals and the angelic children, they are almost watching over the humans. The peaceable part of this kingdom probably had to do with the appearance of the treaty which allowed for William Penn and the Indians to live harmoniously, ironically failed eventually and the peace was lost, but the painting captures the timeless goals of the founder of Pennsylvania. The Quakers had an extremely strong faith and believed that everyone should get along. This was one of William Penn’s strong selling points when selling land in this new world, that everyone was free to practice their own religion. This again relates to this painting which gives the sense that the goal of the meeting portrayed was for everyone to get along in this kingdom, the kingdom God created equally for