J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator

Even though the authors of this book claim to have only presented a collection of a mere few hundred of J.R.R. Tolkien's art works I think that they did a marvelous job showing the range and breadth of his skills and subjects. They focused less on the published pieces (presumably because we can see them elsewhere) than on preliminary sketches, pieces not related to specific Middle Earth writings, and ephemera, which really presented a good view of Tolkien's evolution as an artist. Much of his imagery feeds into the Middle Earth mythos later on (especially in regards to nature scenery), so seeing this source material and having it discussed as part of the larger artistic process sets the stage for researchers, Tolkien-enthosiasts, and show more other artists/writers.

The most illuminating topic of this book for me is the discussion of Tolkien's influence on the design process for the appreance for his books. Not only did he have strong opinions on everything from fonts to shades of colour, but he produced many templates (to be improved upon by other artists, as he humbly felt that he had little talent in this area). Many of these designs have obvious flaws, but many of his ideas and designs were actually used on the initial publications and more still have been used on modern editions! show less

Beautiful reproductions of Tolkien's artwork, from his earliest surviving works to his last. Although many of the images have been reproduced in a variety of other books, many more are presented for the first time (when originally published).

Tolkien was typically dismissive of his ability as an artist, and whilst he is sometimes correct in that self-evaluation, to the appreciative reader of his stories, to have the visual interpretations of these imagined worlds from the hand of the mind that fashioned them is an immeasurable gift. How fortunate we are that his evident delight in the creation of his artworks overcame his too critical judgement.

Hammond's and Scull's text is scholarly, but not dry, and gives context to Tolkien's art that show more is sure to interest (if not delight) any Tolkienista. show less

Tons of beautiful illustrations. A must-read for any Tolkien fan.

Nice to flip through.

Beautiful reproductions and clear text.