Tom Jones & the Landlord, Partridge & Susan, Mrs Waters & the Landlady, from "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling"

Art Historical Context

This etching by Thomas Rowlandson captures a lively scene from Henry Fielding’s celebrated 1749 novel *The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling*. Published in 1792, the print illustrates a moment involving the foundling hero Tom Jones, his companion Partridge, and several inn characters—the landlord, Susan, Mrs. Waters, and the landlady—along with a pair of dogs. Rowlandson, renowned for his witty caricatures and narrative illustrations, brings the novel’s chaotic social encounters to life through expressive figures and dynamic composition. As an etching, the work exemplifies the’s popularity in late eighteenth-century Britain for reproducing literary subjects affordably and widely. The small plate size suggests it was designed for book illustration or print series, allowing readers to visualize Fielding’s sprawling picaresque tale of class, romance, and mistaken identity. Rowlandson’s fluid line work and humorous characterizations highlight the novel’s satirical spirit while reflecting the era’s growing interest in visual storytelling. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this piece connects literature and visual art, offering modern viewers a glimpse into how Georgian audiences engaged with one of English literature’s most enduring comic masterpieces.

About the Artist

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

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