Portrait of Henry Fielding. Engraved by James Basire, for The Works of Henry Fielding. 1762.

 Hogarth was an admirer of Fielding and this image is drawn from memory six years after Fielding’s death (Burke and Caldwell n. 262). In this image, Fielding is depicted in the center of a coin-like medallion, as a monarch of important political figure would be. Below him are his literary works, including Statutes at Large, Tom Jones, and Joseph Andrews. The picture of the latter refers to fielding as a “Comic History Painter.” The masks below also represent Fielding’s contribution to the dramatic arts, and the quill represents his contribution to the novel.

Henry Fielding was born on April 22, 1707 in Sharpham Park, Glastonbury, Somersetshire to Lt. Colonel Edmund Fielding and his wife, Sarah (Boggs). Fielding is most well known as the author of The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams and The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, two early examples of the novel as an art form. He was also a satiric playwriter, creating plays with an anti-government spin. Due to attacks on Sir Robert Walpole, the State Licensing Act was created, which in essence prevented Fielding from writing plays Fielding and Hogarth became friends when he praised Hogarth as "one of the most useful satirists any age hath produced [….] In his excellent works," he continued, "you see the delusive scene exposed with all the force of humour, and on casting your eyes on another picture you behold the dreadful and fatal consequence" (Uglow)

Boggs, Peter. “Biography of Henry Fielding.” Historical Register for the Year 1736. Nd. Web. 28 July. 2014.

Uglow, Jenny. “The Great Showman.” The Guardian. 13 Jan. 2007. Web. 28 July 2014.