Joe Offer --

regarding the Peaceable Kingdom: This version (from around 1845) was the one I grew up with; I think it was part of my household since before I was born (the print is now hanging in my bedroom in my house in Virginia)

As I understand it, Edward Hicks meant for each of the animals to stand in as an allegory for different "Weighty" (I.E. people of standing and respect) Friends within the Society, showing their flaws as well as their strengths... Well, it turns out that Edward's cousin, Elias Hicks, was at the center of the major split in the Society, between those who wanted to be more Christ- and Bible-Centric, and those who wanted the Society to be based more on personal revelation from the Inner Light.

When I first saw the image of Elias Hicks' portrait for the first time, online, his face looked vaguely familiar.

And then I realised who he reminded me of. What do you think -- do you see a family resemblence?

;-)

(My mother, btw, often said that that painting was a perfect illustration of our family philosophy -- Animals and children, front and center, while the grown-ups doing legal contracts and trade are way off in the distance)