File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Fangorn Forest.jpg
J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Fangorn_Forest.jpg (800 × 587 pixels, file size: 105 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)
Summary[edit | edit source]
This painting by J.R.R. Tolkien appeared as 'Fangorn Forest' first as the cover illustration of The Two Towers in 1973 (© George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1973). It later appeared in The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974, and an enlargement of the central area of the picture in The Lord of the Rings 1977 Calendar, in both Calendars captioned 'Fangorn Forest', as in the title inscription, in the hand of the artist, on the painting itself. In The Silmarillion Calendar 1978 the same reproduction as in 1977 was used, but this time captioned "Beleg finds Gwindor in Taur-nu-Fuin". The reason for this is that while preparing the 1978 Calendar the original significance of the painting was realized.
J.R.R. Tolkien stated in a letter of 1937 that the picture of Mirkwood for The Hobbit was itself redrawn from a painting made earlier to illustrate the passage in "The Silmarillion" (Chapter 21) where Beleg finds Gwindor in the forest of Taur-nu-Fuin. That painting is beyond question the one reproduced here, despite the title 'Fangorn Forest'. In view of the title the two figures would naturally be taken to be the hobbits Pippin and Merry, straying in Fangorn before their encounter with Treebeard (The Two Towers, Book III, Chapter 4). It is clear, however, that this is not so; the figures are elves and not hobbits; and the elf climbing over the tree-roots is Beleg Strongbow of Doriath, bearing his great sword Anglachel (which was afterwards reforged for Túrin as Gurthang). The other is Gwindor of Nargothrond, lying exhausted after his escape from the mines of Angband, with his lamp beside him.
The only possible explanation is that J.R.R. Tolkien decided that "The Silmarillion" painting could nevertheless be used as the cover illustration of the George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1973 edition of The Two Towers, as an illustration of the hobbits in Fangorn Forest. It was probably done at the same time as the other "Silmarillion" paintings in the late 1920s.
Licensing[edit | edit source]
This work is copyrighted and owned by the Tolkien Estate. It is believed that the use of this image,
- on the not-for-profit educational Tolkien Gateway website,
qualifies as fair use under copyright law in the United States of America.
File history
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| Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| current | 20:01, 7 September 2009 | | 800 × 587 (105 KB) | Ederchil (talk | contribs) | Reverted to version as of 00:55, 21 February 2006: Size is sufficient. It doesn't need to be 100%; that's not fair use |
| 19:16, 7 September 2009 |  | 1,234 × 802 (252 KB) | Sirielle (talk | contribs) | ||
| 19:14, 7 September 2009 |  | 1,234 × 802 (252 KB) | Sirielle (talk | contribs) | ||
| 19:12, 7 September 2009 |  | 1,234 × 802 (252 KB) | Sirielle (talk | contribs) | Larger image. | |
| 00:55, 21 February 2006 |  | 800 × 587 (105 KB) | Hyarion (talk | contribs) | Ths painting by J.R.R. Tolkien appeared first in The J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar 1974, and an enlargement of the central area of the picture in The Lord of the Rings Calendar 1977, in both Calendars captioned 'Fangorn Forest', as in the title in |
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