Art with the books?

[crassus]

Is there any art that goes along with the stories. I don't recall my version having any. So were some illustrated, and if so which ones were the best?

[Wolfchild]

There are many versions of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit published with illustrations, as are there many without. The artists who are usually behind this artwork are two individuals named John Howe and Alan Lee (who were also conceptual artists in the making of the films), so if you are on the lookout for an illustrated copy of the books then keep an eye open for their names. I reccomend the site Amazon (www.amazon.com, or www.amazon.co.uk) for buying such books, as they are often cheeper than buying them in bookshops.

[Mithrandir]

In addition to the excellent recommendations by Wolfchild, I'd like to share some artwork. I never felt the need to buy an illustrated version of Tolkien's work, since I have my own ideas about the scenery and people and because there's a lot available on the internet.

Anke Eissmann


"Then all memory of his [Beren's] pain departed from him, and he fell into an enchantement; for Lúthien was the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar. Blue was her raiment as the unclouded heaven, but her eyes were grey as the star-lit evening; her mantle was sewn with golden flowers, but her hair was dark as the shadows of twilight."


'I sat at night by the waters of Anduin, in the grey dark under the young pale moon, watching the ever-moving stream; and the sad reeds were rustling. So do we ever watch the shores nigh Osgiliath, which our enemies now partly hold, and issue from it to harry our lands. But that night all the world slept at the midnight hour. Then I saw, or it seemed that I saw, a boata floating on the water, glimmering grey, a small boat of a strange fashion with a high prow, and there was none to row or steer it.'


John Howe


Gandalf battling the Balrog of Moria.


The Doors of Night.


Ted Nasmith


The Shadow of Sauron


Brothers Hildebrandt (see also here)


Rivendell



And there are numerous other sites where you will find art that could accompany your reading of Tolkien.

[Beren One-Hand]

Mithrandir:  Awesome pics!  Thanks for including Luthien, the love of my life.  Remember, I am Beren.   

[Mithrandir]

Thanks for including Luthien, the love of my life.  Remember, I am Beren.   

You're welcome, my one-handed friend That picture of Lúthien is the best I've ever seen. Exactly how I'd imagined her. I just couldn't leave it out...

[Beren One-Hand]

Great choice once again, oh Great and Mighty Valar! 

[crassus]

There are many versions of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit published with illustrations, as are there many without. The artists who are usually behind this artwork are two individuals named John Howe and Alan Lee (who were also conceptual artists in the making of the films), so if you are on the lookout for an illustrated copy of the books then keep an eye open for their names. I reccomend the site Amazon (www.amazon.com, or www.amazon.co.uk) for buying such books, as they are often cheeper than buying them in bookshops.

What about the folio society version which is said to be illustrated by Ingahild Grathmer?

[Wolfchild]

Well like the good Mithrandir proved, there is more than one Tolkien artist. We must credit them all, but I mentioned John Howe and Alan Lee because they were (to me, at least) the most prolific, and as I said before, were the conceptual artists on the films.