Legolas and Gimli on the cover, the 1978 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
In 2012, the first part film version of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey, attracted less excitement than the LOTR a decade ago. I think that is because we are so used to CGI effects by now and the story was somewhat decompressed. I thought the whole cast was great - especially Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Audiences are jaded, because Hollywood has gorged on CGI.
Smaug from the 1977 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
Goldberry from the 1977 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
After I learned to read, the first real book I read was The Hobbit. And long before Peter Jackson, when Boomers were still spraypainting Frodo Lives! on alley walls, there was a minor industry making paraphenalia around The Hobbit (1937), the Lord of the Rings (1954-1955) and The Silmarillion (1977).
The Ring of Galadriel from the 1976 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
Bilbo at Rivendell from the 1976 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
What nostalgia to see The Golden Age blog post all 36 paintings by the Brothers Hildebrandt from the 1976, 1977 and 1978 J. R. R. Tolkien calendars - here! I still have the original calendars tucked away. That post inspired me to scour the Web for some compelling depictions of Middle Earth; although my most recent favourite is the Middle Earth meditation series. I think the LOTR films likely influenced many Millennial artists whose work does not explicitly refer to Tolkien, such as Zoë Keating.
The Pillars of the Kings from the 1978 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
Farmer Maggot's Hospitality from the 1978 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
See my finds below the jump. They point one way or another to Tolkien's parables on good and evil, heroism and weakness, drawn partly from his musings on the past from prehistory, from ancient and medieval languages and cultures, and from World War I. With the exceptions below, I have yet to find convincing depictions of Orcs, a race of ruined and corrupted Elves. If you have a favourite depiction of Middle Earth you would like to suggest, write to me and I will post it in this collection.
Shelob from the 1978 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
Saruman and the Palantir from the 1978 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
Beorn the Berserker from the 1978 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by the Brothers Hildebrandt via The Golden Age.
Ghân-buri-Ghân, Chieftain of the Neanderthal-like Wild Men from The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game. Image Source: via LOTR TCG Wiki.
Bilbo and Gandalf. Image (1967) by Maurice Sendak / Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University via Library Thing. For more on Sendak's version, go here.
The Eagles are Coming from the 1980 J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar. Image © by Michael Whelan via The One Ring.
Above BxW illustrations by Aleksandr Kortich. Images Source: The One Ring.
The wargs had no intention of going away ... by Alan Lee. Image Source: The One Ring.
Nazgul by Alan Lee. Image Source: The One Ring.
Fifth Day After Weathertop by Ted Nasmith. Image Source: The One Ring.
Departure of Boromir by Paul Gregory. Image Source: The One Ring.
Legolas Shoots the Fell Beast by Anke-Katrin Eissman. Image Source: The One Ring.
Strider Reveals His Identity by Anke-Katrin Eissman. Image Source: The One Ring.
The Stirrup-Cup by Anke-Katrin Eissman. Image Source: The One Ring.
Bairanax by Rob Alexander. Image Source: The One Ring.
Elven Cloak by Rob Alexander. Image Source: The One Ring.
Shifter of Hues by Rob Alexander. Image Source: The One Ring.
The Witch King Unleashed by Rob Alexander. Image Source: The One Ring.
The Balrog of Moria by Rob Alexander. Image Source: The One Ring.
Seige in Minas Tirith by Alvaro Barros. Image Source: The One Ring.
The Trolls by Douglas Carrel. Image Source: The One Ring.
Riddles in the Dark by Douglas Carrel. Image Source: The One Ring.
Bilbo Meets Gandalf for the First Time by Douglas Carrel. Image Source: The One Ring.
Sauron by W. Oz Carter. Image Source: The One Ring.
Eomer by Ivan Cavini. Image Source: The One Ring.
Night Chat by Catherine Karina Chmiel. Image Source: The One Ring.
Nazgul by Lode Claes. Image Source: The One Ring.
Gate by Lode Claes. Image Source: The One Ring.
Dawn in Hobbiton by Radu Gaciu. Image Source: The One Ring.
The Gate of Morn by Roger Garland. Image Source: The One Ring.
Smaug by Roger Garland. Image Source: The One Ring.
Gollum by Roger Garland. Image Source: The One Ring.
Resting at Lookout by Michael Hague. Image Source: The One Ring.
Rescued from Wolves by Michael Hague. Image Source: The One Ring.
The Siege of Gondor by Stephen Hickman. Image Source: The One Ring.
Black Rider and the Gaffer by Stephen Hickman. Image Source: The One Ring.
Tirguard, Minas Tirith by John Howe. Image Source: The One Ring.
A Goblin of Gundabad by Henning Janssen. Image Source: The One Ring.
Mirkwood: View of the Main Hall of Thranduil by Henning Janssen. Image Source: The One Ring.
Copyrights remain with all copyright owners and images are reproduced here under Fair Use solely for non-commercial discussion and review.
See all my posts on J. R. R. Tolkien.
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