Monday 28 December 2020

The Lord of the Rings --- a different version II


I blogged a blog (The sound of that phrase makes me laugh.) on a Ukrainian version of illustrations of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. (I was mistaken in my previous blog and called the illustrator, Sergie Lukhimov Russian. I realize the difference and own my mistake.) There were so many, I decided to make a second blog to show the rest I'd seen. This is not all there are; these are the ones that reminded me of icons. The selections might be out of "chronological" order.

The Three Walkers meet Gandalf in Fangorn

Orcs fighting half-orcs or wild men in Mordor.
Frodo and Sam are in the lower center, in rock-coloured cloaks.

The Battle of Helm's Deep
Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and the Ents are visible.
Note the "cannon" in the foreground, delivering the "Fire of Orthanc."

Meeting Merry and Pippin in the ruins of Isengard

Gandalf and Théoden confront Saruman at the Tower of Orchanc.
Grima Wormtongue is there too.
Again the Riders of Rohan are in Eastern European armour with
the White Horse heraldry on their shields.

"Taters"

"The Black Gate Opens."

The Dead Marshes

Frodo and Sam at the Watchers of Cirith Ungol


The witch king leads his army out of Minas Morgul

Mumakil

The Siege of Minas Tirith
The Nazgul appear to be shown as riding a great bird and throwing a grenade(?)

The armies of the dead defeat the Corsairs of Umbar

Gandalf confronts the Witch King
note the rooster opposing the Nazgul's flying mount.

"And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the city, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of war nor of wizardry, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.
And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns, in dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the north wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.” 
                       

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King


The Death of the Witch King
"I am no man!" - Eowyn, shield maiden of Rohan

Aragorn and Gandalf in the House of Healing

Shelob

Gandalf and the Lords of the West confront the Mouth of Sauron
"Elf cloak, Dwarf coat, blade of the downfallen West"

Frodo, Sam, and Gollum at the Cracks of Doom

Frodo and Sam in Mordor


The Crowning of Aragorn as King Elessar



The Hobbits return to the Shire and face down the Sheriffs

I'm sure I've missed quite a few of these wonderful illustrations. Personally I'd love to see the Charge of the Rohirrim done, but I could not find any such illustration. I hope these were interesting to you and brought you some joy in the strangest of Christmas holiday I've ever had.





4 comments:

  1. I know I've seen a depiction of the Battle of Pelennor Fields by this fellow

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    Replies
    1. I'd be willing to trust that you'd be the fellow to find them, James.

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  2. Reminds me a lot of Byzantine art, not just the iconography, and the illustrations attached to the histories, especially of John Scylitzes.

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  3. They are all fascinating. I like the cannon in particular and the green faced sick in the House of Healing.
    An army , or even skirmish force, using these as inspiration would make a fascinating wargames project using stylised scenery too.

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