Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien

From Tolkien Gateway
This article is about the book. For the gallery of pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien, see Images by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien 1979.png
AuthorChristopher Tolkien
IllustratorJ.R.R. Tolkien
PublisherGeorge Allen and Unwin (UK)
Houghton Mifflin (US)
Released1 November 1979 (UK)
19 November 1979 (US)
FormatHardcover with slipcase
Pages103
ISBN0047410035

Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien is a collection of artwork by J.R.R. Tolkien, most of them had been published in a series of calendars by George Allen & Unwin for the years 1974 and 1976-1979. Some of these that were previously published only in truncated form are now seen in full.

The first edition was published by George Allen & Unwin on 1 November 1979. It includes a foreword and notes by Christopher Tolkien.

A revised edition was published in 1992, which includes:

  • A preface by Christopher Tolkien.
  • Numerous amendments and revisions to Christopher’s notes that accompany the illustrations.
  • A few title amendments and picture re-ordering.

A new edition was published in 2021, after nearly 30 years since the last publication.

From the publisher (2021 edition)[edit | edit source]

This collection of pictures, with text by Christopher Tolkien, now reissued after almost 30 years confirms J.R.R. Tolkien’s considerable talent as an artist. It provides fascinating insight into his visual conception of many of the places and events familiar to readers of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.

Examples of his art range from delicate watercolours depicting Rivendell, the Forest of Lothlorien, Smaug, and Old Man Willow, to drawings and sketches of Moria Gate and Minas Tirith. Together they form a comprehensive collection of Tolkien’s own illustrations for his most popular books.

Also included are many of his beautiful designs showing patterns of flowers and trees, friezes, tapestries and heraldic devices associated with the world of Middle-earth. In their variety and scope they provide abundant visual evidence of the richness of his imagination.

Pictures[edit | edit source]

  1. The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water
  2. The Trolls
  3. Three Trolls turned to Stone
  4. Rivendell Looking West
  5. Rivendell Looking East
  6. Rivendell
  7. The Mountain-path
  8. Misty Mountains Looking West
  9. Bilbo Baggins woke with the early sun in his eyes
  10. Beorn's Hall
  11. The Elvenking's Gate (I)
  12. The Elvenking's Gate (II)
  13. Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Raft-elves (I)
  14. Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Raft-elves (II)
  15. Lake Town
  16. The Front Gate
  17. Conversation with Smaug
  18. Smaug flies round the Mountain
  19. Death of Smaug
  20. The Hall at Bag End, Residence of B. Baggins Esquire
  21. Old Man Willow
  22. Doors of Durin and Moria Gate
  23. Leaves from the Book of Mazarbul
  24. Moria Gate (The Steps to the East Gate)
  25. The Forest of Lothlórien in Spring
  26. Helm's Deep and the Hornburg
  27. Orthanc and Minas Tirith
  28. Shelob's Lair
  29. Dunharrow
  30. Orodruin and Barad-dûr
  31. Taniquetil
  32. Lake Mithrim
  33. Nargothrond (I)
  34. Nargothrond (II)
  35. Gondolin and the Vale of Tumladen
  36. Tol Sirion
  37. Mirkwood Fangorn Forest
  38. Glaurung sets forth to seek Túrin (Christopher altered Glórund to Glaurung in order to be consistent with The Silmarillion)
  39. Polar bear had fallen from top to bottom onto his nose
  40. Three Dragons (1, 2&3)
  41. Trees (including "The Tree of Amalion")
  42. Flowering Tree with Friezes
  43. Patterns (I)
  44. Patterns (II)
  45. Floral Designs (including "Pilinehtar")
  46. Númenórean Tile and Textiles
  47. Heraldic Devices (with guide)
  48. Elvish Script (a, b, and c)
  49. Code letter to Father Francis

Publication history and gallery[edit | edit source]

1979 edition slipcase  
1992 edition hardcover  
2021 edition slipcase  
2024 edition hardcover  

See also[edit | edit source]


A J.R.R. Tolkien book guide
Books by or mainly by Tolkien
Of Arda Authored by
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
(i.The Fellowship of the Ring · ii.The Two Towers · iii.The Return of the King) ·
The Road Goes Ever On · Bilbo's Last Song
Edited by Christopher Tolkien The Silmarillion · Unfinished Tales · The History of Middle-earth series
(i.The Book of Lost Tales: Part One · ii.The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two · iii.The Lays of Beleriand · iv.The Shaping of Middle-earth · v.The Lost Road and Other Writings · vi.The Return of the Shadow · vii.The Treason of Isengard · viii.The War of the Ring · ix.Sauron Defeated · x.Morgoth's Ring · xi.The War of the Jewels · xii.The Peoples of Middle-earth · Index) ·
The Children of Húrin · Beren and Lúthien · The Fall of Gondolin
Edited by others The Annotated Hobbit · The History of The Hobbit · The Nature of Middle-earth ·
The Fall of Númenor · The Maps of Middle-earth
Not of Arda Short stories
and poems
Leaf by Niggle · Farmer Giles of Ham · Smith of Wootton Major · The Adventures of Tom Bombadil ·
Letters from Father Christmas · Mr. Bliss · Roverandom ·
Tree and Leaf (compilation) · Tales from the Perilous Realm (compilation)
Fictional works The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún · The Fall of Arthur · The Story of Kullervo · The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun
Translations and academic works Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo · Finn and Hengest ·
The Monsters and the Critics, and Other Essays · Beowulf and the Critics · Tolkien On Fairy-stories ·
Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary · A Secret Vice · The Battle of Maldon
Collected letters and poems The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien · The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien
Edited old texts A Middle English Vocabulary · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight · Ancrene Wisse · The Old English Exodus
Books by other authors
Biographies J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography · The Inklings · Tolkien and the Great War
Reference works The Complete Guide to Middle-earth · The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide
Scholarly studies The Road to Middle-earth · The Keys of Middle-earth · The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion ·
The Ring of Words · A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien · Tolkien's Lost Chaucer ·
Tolkien's Library · Tolkien on Chaucer, 1913-1959
Scholarly journals Tolkien Studies · (The Chronology)
Other works by Tolkien
Linguistic journals Vinyar Tengwar various issues · Parma Eldalamberon issue 11-22
Collections of artwork
and manuscripts
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien · J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend · J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator ·
The Art of The Hobbit · The Art of The Lord of the Rings · Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth ·
Tolkien: Treasures · J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript
This list is only a selection of works, for a fuller bibliography of Tolkien see here or here. See also a timeline and an index.