This item is an antique etching titled "The Battle Royal in the Church Yard" created by the prominent artist George Cruikshank.

The print was published in London by James Cochrane & Co. in 1831.

George Cruikshank was a renowned British caricaturist and illustrator known for his detailed social satire and literary illustrations. 

"The Battle Royal in the Church Yard" is a well-known illustration by George Cruikshank for Henry Fieldings novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. This scene, published in 1853, depicts a chaotic, humorous fight involving numerous characters, typically illustrated in the graveyard setting, capturing the lively, satirical nature of the 18th-century literature.
  • Context: It is an illustration from The Works of Henry Fielding, specifically highlighting a, often chaotic, brawl from the novel, rendered in a 19th-century artistic style.
  • Artist: The engraving was done by the famous British caricaturist George Cruikshank.
  • Subject: The scene represents a "battle royal," a term for a fight with many combatants, placed within a churchyard, reflecting the comedic and tumultuous, sometimes raucous, nature of the narrative's action.

NOTE: Prints for sale are placed on an acid free page / carton any then covered with a plastic shield for extra protection. Please disregard any white spots on pictures. They are reflections of the camera flash on the plastic protective cover and are NOT "Condition Issues".