Question 1

Where can I see Edward Hicks's work?

Accepted Answer

Edward Hicks's work can be viewed in several locations. In New York City, examples are held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. You can also find his pieces at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut. Further works are on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, also in Philadelphia. The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh has examples, too. In Washington, DC, Hicks's art can be seen at the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of American Art. Other locations include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the Worcester Art Museum. These institutions provide opportunities to see Hicks's artistic output.

Question 2

What should I know about Edward Hicks's prints?

Accepted Answer

When assessing Edward Hicks's prints, bear in mind some basic information about printmaking. Printmakers often limit the number of copies of an image they produce, although there is no technical requirement to do so. The artist's decision to limit an edition is recorded in pencil at the bottom margin of each print, following standard conventions. These conventions include a print number and an edition number, the print's title in the centre, and the artist's signature on the right. These descriptions are subject to the Trade Descriptions Act of 1968, so any claims must be truthful when describing the print.

Original prints are conceived and executed solely as prints, usually in numbered editions signed by the artist. Each print in the edition is an original, printed individually from a matrix created for that purpose. Reproductions, on the other hand, are copies of artworks initially conceived in another medium, such as painting or watercolour, and made by photomechanical means. Numbering and signing a reproduction does not change its status as a copy rather than an original print.

Question 3

Why are Edward Hicks's works important today?

Accepted Answer

Edward Hicks (1780-1849) was an American folk painter and Quaker minister. Hicks is best known for his series of paintings titled "Peaceable Kingdom". These works, produced in many versions, depict a scene inspired by Isaiah 11:6-9, showing a collection of animals, including a lion, lamb, bear, and wolf, coexisting peacefully.

Hicks's art provides insight into 19th-century American religious and social values. As a devout Quaker, his paintings often conveyed his spiritual beliefs and pacifist ideals. The "Peaceable Kingdom" paintings, in particular, reflect the Quaker vision of harmony and reconciliation.

His work is significant for its contribution to American folk art. Hicks's style is characterised by its simplicity, directness, and lack of formal training. These qualities give his paintings a unique charm and authenticity that appeals to modern audiences. His paintings offer a window into a specific time and place in American history. They document the values, beliefs, and artistic sensibilities of a particular community.

Question 4

What techniques or materials did Edward Hicks use?

Accepted Answer

Edward Hicks (1780-1849) was an American folk painter, best known for his series of paintings titled "Peaceable Kingdom". Hicks was largely self-taught, and his artistic techniques were somewhat unconventional.

Initially apprenticed to coach makers, Hicks learned decorative painting, which influenced his later work. He often used house paint, rather than traditional artists' pigments, which contributed to the distinctive look of his paintings. His brushwork is characterised by its directness and lack of blending.

Hicks's painting process typically involved sketching the composition directly onto the canvas, then applying thin layers of paint. He sometimes added glazes to create depth and luminosity. His colour palette was relatively limited, consisting primarily of earth tones, blues, and reds. While not formally trained, Hicks developed a unique style that suited his artistic vision and the demands of his subject matter. His paintings have a distinctive, somewhat primitive quality that is part of their charm and appeal.

Question 5

Who did Edward Hicks influence?

Accepted Answer

Edward Hicks (1780-1849) was an early American painter whose work has a naive style. Hicks was also an active Quaker preacher; he financed his missionary travels by selling his paintings. He is known for repeatedly returning to the same subject matter, with scores of versions of each existing, such as his painting, *The Peaceable Kingdom*. Each version contains minor variations.

Hicks began as a coachmaker's apprentice, painting decorative panels. He also painted tavern signs. His paintings reflected the Christian values he preached. His honest approach is typical of early American painting. Mark Rothko noted the challenge of tracing influence in early American art, because many painters emulated British or European styles. Rothko identifies a line of influence from Thomas Eakins and William Merritt Chase to George Bellows. He contrasts that with artists such as Albert Pinkham Ryder, whose work mixed Florentine, Pre-Raphaelite, and Blake-like conceptions.

Question 6

Who influenced Edward Hicks?

Accepted Answer

Edward Hicks began his career painting decorative panels for coaches and tavern signs. His style is considered typical of early American painting.

Hicks was an active Quaker preacher, and his Christian values influenced his subjects. He reflected these values in his compositions, and he sold paintings to finance his travels as a missionary. His most frequent subject was "The Peaceable Kingdom", which he painted repeatedly with slight variations. This subject relates to the eleventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah, which concerns peace between people and animals.

Benjamin West, another American artist who spent time in London, was an extremely influential figure in the development of American art. West had enormous flair and versatility, achieving great popularity. His London studio became a training location for important American artists, but it is not clear whether Hicks was directly influenced by West, or if they simply shared a similar background.

Question 7

What is Edward Hicks's most famous work?

Accepted Answer

It is difficult to identify one single work as Edward Hicks's most famous. He is best known for a series of paintings on one theme, rather than a single canvas.

Hicks repeatedly returned to the subject of "The Peaceable Kingdom". He created numerous versions of this composition throughout his career. These paintings draw inspiration from the Book of Isaiah, specifically the passage describing a time when wild animals and humans will live together in harmony.

These works typically depict a pastoral scene with a group of animals, including lions, bears, wolves, and lambs, coexisting peacefully. In the background, one often sees William Penn negotiating a treaty with the Native Americans. This reflects Hicks's Quaker beliefs and his hope for reconciliation and harmony between different groups of people. The paintings combine religious, historical, and utopian themes.

Question 8

What style or movement did Edward Hicks belong to?

Accepted Answer

Edward Hicks (born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1780; died in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, in 1849) is associated with early American painting, often described as naive. Hicks's style is characterised by its directness and simplicity, reflecting the values he preached as an active Quaker.

Hicks began his career as an apprentice to a coachmaker, where he painted decorative panels. He later painted tavern signs, and his art often promoted Christian values. His paintings, such as "The Peaceable Kingdom" (circa 1833/4), illustrate this with depictions of animals and children in an idealised setting. These paintings also include William Penn concluding a treaty with the Indians, further communicating goodwill and harmony. Hicks created many versions of "The Peaceable Kingdom", each with slight alterations.

The basic colour scheme and naive style of Hicks's work reinforce its simple message. His landscapes reflected his Christian beliefs, and he sold them to fund his missionary travels.

Where to See Edward Hicks

Where to see Edward Hicks

National Gallery of Art

Yale University Art Gallery

Carnegie Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Museo de Arte de Worcester

Gilcrease Museum

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

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