The Sentinel Mistakes Tom Jones for an Apparition, from "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling"

Art Historical Context

This etching by Thomas Rowlandson captures a humorous moment from Henry Fielding’s beloved 1749 novel, *The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling*. Titled *The Sentinel Mistakes Tom Jones for an Apparition*, the scene depicts a startled guard mistaking the novel’s roguish hero for a ghostly figure, highlighting the story’s blend of adventure, mistaken identity, and social comedy. Rowlandson, a leading caricaturist of the late eighteenth century, created this print in 1792 to accompany a new edition of the classic work. As an etching, the medium allowed Rowlandson’s lively line work and exaggerated expressions to reach a broad audience through affordable book illustrations. The image reflects the era’s taste for satire, poking gentle fun at superstition and military pomposity while celebrating Fielding’s sharp observations of English society. Rowlandson’s fluid drawing style brings the novel’s energetic spirit to life on the small plate. Today, this print in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection offers visitors a charming glimpse into how literature and visual satire intersected in Georgian England, preserving both a literary milestone and the playful artistry of one of its most popular illustrators.

About the Artist

Henry Fielding|Thomas Rowlandson (British|British) · 1707 |1757 –1754 |1827

British, 1707–1754|British, London 1757–1827 London