Edward Hicks (1780–1849) was an American folk painter and Quaker preacher. He was born in Pennsylvania and worked as a coach and sign painter before turning to art more seriously. Because his religious beliefs discouraged pride and personal ambition, Hicks struggled with whether painting was a proper calling.

Despite this, Hicks is best known for his many versions of The Peaceable Kingdom, a painting that shows animals and people living together in harmony, inspired by a Bible verse from the book of Isaiah. He painted more than 60 versions of this scene. Hicks’s simple, direct style and his use of religious themes made him an important figure in early American art.