Edward Hicks was an American folk painter and religious minister who is best known for his Peaceable Kingdom paintings. He joined his cousin's Hicksite movement and remained a passionate defender of its beliefs. Several of his paintings reflect the controversy of the time. Hicks' easel paintings were often made for family and friends and not intended for sale. He is widely celebrated as one of America's beloved folk artists, known for his naive depictions of the landscape and farms of Pennsylvania and New York. His Peaceable Kingdom paintings are iconic and have become symbols of American folk art. Hicks is considered the most well-known and beloved folk painter in 19th-century America.