The Siege of Namur by Captain Shandy and Corporal Trim (Tristram Shandy) 1800 - 1820

This humorous hand-colored etching by British artist Henry William Bunbury depicts a satirical scene of the Siege of Namur, a pivotal moment in the Nine Years' War. The work, titled "The Siege of Namur by Captain Shandy & Corporal Trim," references the characters from Laurence Sterne's novel "Tristram Shandy." Bunbury's caricature satirizes the absurdity of war through comical depictions of military figures engaged in absurd activities, highlighting the disconnect between grand military campaigns and their often-mundane realities. The work, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offers a unique perspective on 18th-century military culture and the enduring popularity of Sterne's literary masterpiece.