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The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit, a sumptuous full-colour art book containing the complete collection of more than 100 Hobbit sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien.
When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, he was already an accomplished amateur artist, and drew illustrations for his book while it was still in manuscript. The Hobbit as first printed had ten black and white pictures, two maps, and binding and dust-jacket designs by its author. Later, Tolkien also painted five scenes for colour plates which are some of his best work. His illustrations for The Hobbit add an extra dimension to that remarkable book, and have long influenced how readers imagine Bilbo Baggins and his world.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit, the complete artwork created by the author for his story has been collected in The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Including related pictures, more than one hundred sketches, drawings, paintings, maps, and plans are presented here, preliminary and alternate versions and experimental designs as well as finished art. Some of these images are now published for the first time, and others for the first time in colour. Fresh digital scans from the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford and Marquette University in Wisconsin allow Tolkien’s Hobbit pictures to be seen more vividly than ever before.
The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien has been written and edited by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, two of the leading experts on Tolkien and authors of the acclaimed J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator, The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion, and The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide.
When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, he was already an accomplished amateur artist, and drew illustrations for his book while it was still in manuscript. The Hobbit as first printed had ten black and white pictures, two maps, and binding and dust-jacket designs by its author. Later, Tolkien also painted five scenes for colour plates which are some of his best work. His illustrations for The Hobbit add an extra dimension to that remarkable book, and have long influenced how readers imagine Bilbo Baggins and his world.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit, the complete artwork created by the author for his story has been collected in The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Including related pictures, more than one hundred sketches, drawings, paintings, maps, and plans are presented here, preliminary and alternate versions and experimental designs as well as finished art. Some of these images are now published for the first time, and others for the first time in colour. Fresh digital scans from the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford and Marquette University in Wisconsin allow Tolkien’s Hobbit pictures to be seen more vividly than ever before.
The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien has been written and edited by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, two of the leading experts on Tolkien and authors of the acclaimed J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator, The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion, and The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2011
62 people are currently reading
2591 people want to read
About the author
Wayne G. Hammond
27 books47 followersWayne G. Hammond was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in the suburb of Brooklyn. In 1975 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, where he majored in English. In 1976 he received his Master of Arts in Library Science degree from the School of Library Science of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and from that year has been Assistant Librarian in the Chapin Library (rare books and manuscripts) at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He married Christina Scull in December 1994. His publications include The Graphic Art of C.B. Falls (1982), J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography (1993), and Arthur Ransome: A Bibliography (2000). He is also the co-author or co-editor with his wife of numerous works by and about J.R.R. Tolkien, and has designed a wide variety of books, exhibition catalogues, posters, and other printed materials. He has won a Clyde S. Kilby Research Grant from the Marion E. Wade Center, Wheaton College, and is a five-time winner of scholarship awards from the Mythopoeic Society.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
November 5, 2017
This is an impressive book full of Tolkien’s original art. It’s extraordinary to see the paintings and drawings from the man who devised the Middle Earth universe himself, rather than another’s interpretation. Despite his apparent modesty toward his own work, some are quite developed such as the forests and mountains. Fangorn forest is drawn in a way that evokes the presence of mystery, of magic: it is all in the colour of the trees.
Also included are very simple sketches that are Tolkien’s very first drawings of the Hobbit. It is delightful, in some cases, to see these grow from very rough outlines into the famous paintings that adorn the pages of The Hobbit in its original published copy.
The annotations of the images are explanatory and definitive as they discuss the origins of each piece. Alan Lee is wonderful and everything, but his work will only ever be interpretations despite how grand it is. Seeing Tolkien’s own visual ideas, despite his limited artistic talent, was rather informative. So this is a welcome volume to my ever growing Tolkien bookshelf.
Following on from this though, I highly recommend avoiding The Art of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien because that doesn’t actually display any art, just a few lines and very vague sketches Tolkien never wanted published. This is the best collection of his art that I’ve come across.
Also included are very simple sketches that are Tolkien’s very first drawings of the Hobbit. It is delightful, in some cases, to see these grow from very rough outlines into the famous paintings that adorn the pages of The Hobbit in its original published copy.
The annotations of the images are explanatory and definitive as they discuss the origins of each piece. Alan Lee is wonderful and everything, but his work will only ever be interpretations despite how grand it is. Seeing Tolkien’s own visual ideas, despite his limited artistic talent, was rather informative. So this is a welcome volume to my ever growing Tolkien bookshelf.
Following on from this though, I highly recommend avoiding The Art of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien because that doesn’t actually display any art, just a few lines and very vague sketches Tolkien never wanted published. This is the best collection of his art that I’ve come across.
October 8, 2023
I love it when I visit quaint little villages which have unexpected curious shops in them, because I discovered this beautiful book in Stow-On-The-Wold in an independent book shop full of of gorgeous books with many special editions on offer. I had been on the lookout for this particular book for a while, so this was a grand purchase that will be looked at over and over again.
To begin, I must say, I have to agree with the statement mentioned in the first couple of pages, one that was said by C.S. Lewis in regards to The Hobbit:
"Tolkien's great friend C.S. Lewis, who had inside knowledge - came closest in saying that The Hobbit admitted its readers to a world that seems to have been going on before we stumbled into it."
I believe this to be true, as ultimately, I did stumble into it, and as soon as I did, I knew it was one of the best decisions of my life, as Middle Earth felt like home. From the famous hobbit hole that Bilbo Baggins resided in to the grand residence of Rivendell, this is what I came for, and I love it all.
I would say that reading The Hobbit beforehand is helpful to the understanding of each illustration, but I don't believe it is necessary. Each illustration is presented in a way that is accessible, even to a person that has just discovered Tolkien.
Personally, I find the maps mind-blowing as each area was intricately drawn by Tolkien himself, adding to the world that we all know as Middle Earth. When I sit back and think about it, it makes me feel rather thrilled and humbled at the same time.
This is a wonderful, beautifully presented book whether one is a diehard Tolkien fan like me or not. Just buy it, and then treasure it forever.
To begin, I must say, I have to agree with the statement mentioned in the first couple of pages, one that was said by C.S. Lewis in regards to The Hobbit:
"Tolkien's great friend C.S. Lewis, who had inside knowledge - came closest in saying that The Hobbit admitted its readers to a world that seems to have been going on before we stumbled into it."
I believe this to be true, as ultimately, I did stumble into it, and as soon as I did, I knew it was one of the best decisions of my life, as Middle Earth felt like home. From the famous hobbit hole that Bilbo Baggins resided in to the grand residence of Rivendell, this is what I came for, and I love it all.
I would say that reading The Hobbit beforehand is helpful to the understanding of each illustration, but I don't believe it is necessary. Each illustration is presented in a way that is accessible, even to a person that has just discovered Tolkien.
Personally, I find the maps mind-blowing as each area was intricately drawn by Tolkien himself, adding to the world that we all know as Middle Earth. When I sit back and think about it, it makes me feel rather thrilled and humbled at the same time.
This is a wonderful, beautifully presented book whether one is a diehard Tolkien fan like me or not. Just buy it, and then treasure it forever.
October 13, 2015
This is a book I picked up as research for my Dissertation and I have to say it's well worth the read even if you're not writing a dissertation about it. This book collects a vast amount of Tolkien's original artworks (which he himself was highly critical of) and shows them right from the inception (pencil lines sketches) right through to the final Ink or Watercolour illustrations that made it into the print versions of the book. I found it to be a fascinating look at not only Tolkien's art, but an insightful tale of how the book gradually became the final product and the various mistakes, edits and revisions to the artwork and maps along the way.
I loved being able to find out the quotes which related directly to the images (as these were frequently referenced) and see exactly what Tolkien was thinking when he began the illustrating process. He never truly wanted to be an artist and never fully considered his work to be of a high quality, but he tirelessly revised and reworked to get the best images he could (not being one for people it was usually landscape and architecture-based) and you can see the naive passion and love he had for the world through them.
I also found that the way the book is written and laid out is concise and easy to follow with images being displayed in chronologic order from inception to final piece and then each being related to a certain chapter/place in the text. The way it was laid out allowed the reader to follow the way that Tolkien discovered and invented his sets and worlds and really gave a sense of the magical place he imagined Middle-Earth to be.
On the whole it's a solid, wonderful book with some stunning images and great original artworks. I would highly recommend this if you have a particular liking for the Hobbit, J R R Tolkien or knowing exactly how the process of making this renowned little book began. A great 4* read.
I loved being able to find out the quotes which related directly to the images (as these were frequently referenced) and see exactly what Tolkien was thinking when he began the illustrating process. He never truly wanted to be an artist and never fully considered his work to be of a high quality, but he tirelessly revised and reworked to get the best images he could (not being one for people it was usually landscape and architecture-based) and you can see the naive passion and love he had for the world through them.
I also found that the way the book is written and laid out is concise and easy to follow with images being displayed in chronologic order from inception to final piece and then each being related to a certain chapter/place in the text. The way it was laid out allowed the reader to follow the way that Tolkien discovered and invented his sets and worlds and really gave a sense of the magical place he imagined Middle-Earth to be.
On the whole it's a solid, wonderful book with some stunning images and great original artworks. I would highly recommend this if you have a particular liking for the Hobbit, J R R Tolkien or knowing exactly how the process of making this renowned little book began. A great 4* read.
October 5, 2018
i figli ... che pubblico meraviglioso ...
Il libro raccoglie e descrive le illustrazioni che Tolkien realizzò nel corso degli anni, per le varie edizioni dello Hobbit. Troviamo schizzi, bozzetti, disegni a china e acquerello. Tutti descritti e spiegati con dovizie di particolari e di significativi riferimenti all’intreccio della trama.
Tolkien sviluppò (e disegnò) la storia narrata nello Hobbit in più riprese. Ebbe quattro figli e, nel 1930, John aveva dodici anni, Michael dieci, Christopher sei e Priscilla uno. I vari capitoli dello Hobbit, nella loro prima stesura, facevano parte delle storie invernali, che a casa Tolkien il padre, dopo il té del pomeriggio, leggeva ai propri figli.
Tolkien era anche un pittore dilettante. Era meno abile nel ritrarre le persone, ma dimostrava un certo talento nel rappresentare paesaggi ed elementi naturali. Per lo Hobbit, Tolkien aveva confezionato quello che lui definiva un primo “manoscritto domestico” e, man mano, aveva arricchito la storia con illustrazioni realizzate da lui stesso.
La creazione di storie ed il disegno facevano parte integrante della famiglia Tolkien. Tant’è che finchè i figli furono piccoli, nel mese di dicembre di ogni anno, Tolkien scriveva una lunga lettera, fingendo che fosse scritta da Babbo Natale e dai suoi aiutanti, ed in cui si narrava di strabilianti avventure ambientate al Polo Nord. Ogni lettera era scritta con una grafia differente. Quelle scritte, ad esempio, da un vecchissimo Babbo Natale, avevano una grafia incerta e tremolante. Le buste riportavano timbri e francobolli del ... Polo Nord! Ciascuna lettera, per la gioia dei bimbi, era corredata da una o più illustrazioni.
Lo Hobbit viene pubblicato nel 1937 e già la prima edizione comprende alcune illustrazioni realizzate da Tolkien. Per le successive edizioni e poi per la prima edizione americana, Tolkien realizzò nuovi disegni e affinò, in accordo con gli editori, i precedenti. Lo scrittore, per le sue illustrazioni, utilizzava indifferentemente la matita o l’inchiostro o lapis colorati, e talvolta, l’acquerello. Però, per non far aumentare i costi di stampa delle prime edizioni, limitò, tranne alcune eccezioni, l’uso del colore. Alcune illustrazioni ricordano i bellissimi disegni dello straordinario e sfortunato (morì di tisi a soli 26 anni) Aubrey Beardsley.
Ogni capitolo del libro si sofferma su un tema particolare. Ritroviamo così Gran Burrone, la Mappa di Thror, la Sala di Beorn, il Bosco Atro, la Mappa delle Terre Selvagge e tanti altri schizzi e disegni che raffigurano i passi più importanti dell’avventura. Di ogni disegno ne viene spiegata la genesi, l’evoluzione, le scelte operate per il loro inserimento nel libro. Si conclude con l’immagine dell’Ingresso della Caverna-Hobbit di Bilbo. Così il cerchio si chiude.
Si chiude anche il libro, ma è un po’ come chiudere un atlante. Lo riprenderai di nuovo in mano tutte le volte che ti verrà in mente di andare a vedere come sono fatte le Montagne Nebbiose o la Città di Esgaroth o la Montagna Solitaria.
Certo, nulla a che vedere con la bellezza delle matite di Alan Lee, raccolte nel magnifico “The Lord of the Ring – Sketchbook” . Libro stupendo, che mi ha aperto un mondo di grafica e di sogno, scoperto grazie ad Ale*es, che non smetterò di ringraziare. Ma di questa piccola meraviglia vorrò parlarne solo quando sarò in grado di pubblicarne alcune immagini incantevoli. Per adesso … studio.
[Jan 2013 + Sep 2018]
Il libro raccoglie e descrive le illustrazioni che Tolkien realizzò nel corso degli anni, per le varie edizioni dello Hobbit. Troviamo schizzi, bozzetti, disegni a china e acquerello. Tutti descritti e spiegati con dovizie di particolari e di significativi riferimenti all’intreccio della trama.
Tolkien sviluppò (e disegnò) la storia narrata nello Hobbit in più riprese. Ebbe quattro figli e, nel 1930, John aveva dodici anni, Michael dieci, Christopher sei e Priscilla uno. I vari capitoli dello Hobbit, nella loro prima stesura, facevano parte delle storie invernali, che a casa Tolkien il padre, dopo il té del pomeriggio, leggeva ai propri figli.
Tolkien era anche un pittore dilettante. Era meno abile nel ritrarre le persone, ma dimostrava un certo talento nel rappresentare paesaggi ed elementi naturali. Per lo Hobbit, Tolkien aveva confezionato quello che lui definiva un primo “manoscritto domestico” e, man mano, aveva arricchito la storia con illustrazioni realizzate da lui stesso.
La creazione di storie ed il disegno facevano parte integrante della famiglia Tolkien. Tant’è che finchè i figli furono piccoli, nel mese di dicembre di ogni anno, Tolkien scriveva una lunga lettera, fingendo che fosse scritta da Babbo Natale e dai suoi aiutanti, ed in cui si narrava di strabilianti avventure ambientate al Polo Nord. Ogni lettera era scritta con una grafia differente. Quelle scritte, ad esempio, da un vecchissimo Babbo Natale, avevano una grafia incerta e tremolante. Le buste riportavano timbri e francobolli del ... Polo Nord! Ciascuna lettera, per la gioia dei bimbi, era corredata da una o più illustrazioni.
Lo Hobbit viene pubblicato nel 1937 e già la prima edizione comprende alcune illustrazioni realizzate da Tolkien. Per le successive edizioni e poi per la prima edizione americana, Tolkien realizzò nuovi disegni e affinò, in accordo con gli editori, i precedenti. Lo scrittore, per le sue illustrazioni, utilizzava indifferentemente la matita o l’inchiostro o lapis colorati, e talvolta, l’acquerello. Però, per non far aumentare i costi di stampa delle prime edizioni, limitò, tranne alcune eccezioni, l’uso del colore. Alcune illustrazioni ricordano i bellissimi disegni dello straordinario e sfortunato (morì di tisi a soli 26 anni) Aubrey Beardsley.
Ogni capitolo del libro si sofferma su un tema particolare. Ritroviamo così Gran Burrone, la Mappa di Thror, la Sala di Beorn, il Bosco Atro, la Mappa delle Terre Selvagge e tanti altri schizzi e disegni che raffigurano i passi più importanti dell’avventura. Di ogni disegno ne viene spiegata la genesi, l’evoluzione, le scelte operate per il loro inserimento nel libro. Si conclude con l’immagine dell’Ingresso della Caverna-Hobbit di Bilbo. Così il cerchio si chiude.
Si chiude anche il libro, ma è un po’ come chiudere un atlante. Lo riprenderai di nuovo in mano tutte le volte che ti verrà in mente di andare a vedere come sono fatte le Montagne Nebbiose o la Città di Esgaroth o la Montagna Solitaria.
Certo, nulla a che vedere con la bellezza delle matite di Alan Lee, raccolte nel magnifico “The Lord of the Ring – Sketchbook” . Libro stupendo, che mi ha aperto un mondo di grafica e di sogno, scoperto grazie ad Ale*es, che non smetterò di ringraziare. Ma di questa piccola meraviglia vorrò parlarne solo quando sarò in grado di pubblicarne alcune immagini incantevoli. Per adesso … studio.
[Jan 2013 + Sep 2018]
February 13, 2024
Compagno della mia prima rilettura de "Lo Hobbit", è stato questo libro dal formato non così facilmente maneggievole, ma necessario per esprimere al meglio l'arte di Tolkien.
I due autori di questo saggio sull'arte de "Lo Hobbit", ripercorrono, dall'inizio alle fine, le tappe che hanno portato alla realizzazione delle illustrazioni, da parte di Tolkien, per le avventure di Bilbo. Molto interessante vedere gli schizzi preparatori, le diverse prospettive disegnate, per poi soffermarsi su quella più adatta alla narrazione. Paesaggi e mappe la fanno padrone, perchè, come disse Tolkien stesso, realizzare una storia senza immaginarne le fisionomia, sarebbe come creare un'opera a metà, soprattutto per un libro di fantasia. Aggiungiamoci anche che Tolkien si dilettava a disegnare, in un periodo, l'inizio del Novecento, dove il disegno era un hobby ed una pratica molto comune e meno male, altrimenti alcune chicche ce le saremmo perse.
Da collezione!
I due autori di questo saggio sull'arte de "Lo Hobbit", ripercorrono, dall'inizio alle fine, le tappe che hanno portato alla realizzazione delle illustrazioni, da parte di Tolkien, per le avventure di Bilbo. Molto interessante vedere gli schizzi preparatori, le diverse prospettive disegnate, per poi soffermarsi su quella più adatta alla narrazione. Paesaggi e mappe la fanno padrone, perchè, come disse Tolkien stesso, realizzare una storia senza immaginarne le fisionomia, sarebbe come creare un'opera a metà, soprattutto per un libro di fantasia. Aggiungiamoci anche che Tolkien si dilettava a disegnare, in un periodo, l'inizio del Novecento, dove il disegno era un hobby ed una pratica molto comune e meno male, altrimenti alcune chicche ce le saremmo perse.
Da collezione!
December 8, 2023
کتاب پر از طرح های اولیه تاکین بود.
اول توضیحات لوکیشن ها رو داشت. بعد اسکچ های مرحله به مرحله شون رو.
دیدن طرح های کار خودش لذت بخش بودن.
آها نویسنده برا یه سری قسمت ها گشته بود از چک نویس ها و نسخه های نادر نقشه اینای محل رو پیدا کرده بود و اون تیکه ها هم آورده بود.
بعد این طرح هایی که تاکین زده فقط برا نقشه، اژدها و محیط و اینا نیست ها، این جناب گرفته جدا کننده فصل ها و اینا هم خودش طراحی کرده.
اول توضیحات لوکیشن ها رو داشت. بعد اسکچ های مرحله به مرحله شون رو.
دیدن طرح های کار خودش لذت بخش بودن.
آها نویسنده برا یه سری قسمت ها گشته بود از چک نویس ها و نسخه های نادر نقشه اینای محل رو پیدا کرده بود و اون تیکه ها هم آورده بود.
بعد این طرح هایی که تاکین زده فقط برا نقشه، اژدها و محیط و اینا نیست ها، این جناب گرفته جدا کننده فصل ها و اینا هم خودش طراحی کرده.
June 30, 2018
I am pretty sure that Tolkien can do no wrong in my eyes, so maybe I'm a bit biased. But I really did enjoy this book, a collection of Tolkien's own artwork he did for the Hobbit.
While it is semi-helpful to have read the Hobbit to understand what sections the art is trying to portray, the compilers (Hammons and Scull) do a good job of explaining each set of pieces, how they developed, and what part of the story they are to represent. It was interesting to see some of the rough drafts and how Tolkien's conversations with the publishers polished those drafts. I was not educated to how they printed things in books at that time, so that explanation was interesting to me.
Not only are the explanations well done, but the book contains 106 of Tolkien's scribbles, drawings, and paintings. Some of them very well realized and polished. I knew he had drawn his own maps for Hobbit and LOTR, but to see some of these others was pretty neat.
A good book for lovers of Tolkien and/or Art.
While it is semi-helpful to have read the Hobbit to understand what sections the art is trying to portray, the compilers (Hammons and Scull) do a good job of explaining each set of pieces, how they developed, and what part of the story they are to represent. It was interesting to see some of the rough drafts and how Tolkien's conversations with the publishers polished those drafts. I was not educated to how they printed things in books at that time, so that explanation was interesting to me.
Not only are the explanations well done, but the book contains 106 of Tolkien's scribbles, drawings, and paintings. Some of them very well realized and polished. I knew he had drawn his own maps for Hobbit and LOTR, but to see some of these others was pretty neat.
A good book for lovers of Tolkien and/or Art.
April 15, 2023
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
What is The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien about? To celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit, this fully-commented art book collects writer J.R.R. Tolkien’s complete artwork related to the beloved classic. In fact, J.R.R. Tolkien drew illustrations to accompany his story when it was still just a manuscript. Initially, ten black-and-white pictures, two maps, and binding and dust jacket designs created by himself were published with the book. He was also invited to paint five scenes for colour plates. With editors and Tolkien experts Wayne G. Hammond and his wife Christina Scull, also considered a veteran of Tolkien’s work, this book presents these pieces of art with related pictures, sketches, drawings, paintings, maps, and plans, giving readers a broader understanding and vision behind The Hobbit.
The editors behind this neat collection magnificently reconstruct the story of The Hobbit through a succinct commentary that allows readers to revisit the adventures of Bilbo Baggins while mostly focusing on writer J.R.R. Tolkien’s original illustrations. With each illustration, Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull also reveal the inspirations behind several of the author’s drawings, oftentimes pertaining to personal adventures or referring to other artistic work that left a lasting impression on him when he was still working on his fantasy stories that are considered impactful and unparalleled classics within the fantasy genre. Even more gripping is the inclusion of countless details that could easily be overlooked by an inattentive admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s artwork, revealing the little references to the author’s beautifully descriptive world, such as legendary artifacts or subtle inscriptions alluding to key characters.
Once more, similar to Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien, the larger format on thick paper allow the editors to showcase the author’s artwork with ideal dimensions and colours. As mentioned in their introduction, these drawings are reproduced as large as possible without distortion but in some cases, some sketches are purposefully darkened to allow readers to better observe the faint pencil work. Considering the cost-efficiency logic that used to dominate the printing trade back in the day, this volume also helps better understand the differences between line-block and half-tone processes and the challenges faced by J.R.R. Tolkien in conceiving some of his drawings for printing. What’s even more fascinating is the evolution in concept, showcased through several consecutive sketches which sometimes required double foldout pages, giving readers a better understanding of the work put into conceiving these pictures.
Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit will surely find joy and respite in revisiting his masterpiece through this art book, discovering brand-new details of a universe that I simply can’t get enough from. While the four-colour illustrations, like Rivendell or Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Ralft-elves, are some of the most mesmerizing pieces, even the sketches that barely show anything are intriguing in their own rights. Ultimately, only those curious about his artistic style and concept ideas will find this read rewarding. Others will probably prefer adding this book to their collection once discounted or first give it a shot with a library copy. Nevertheless, this remains another wonderful exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world without his traditional story-telling to accompany it.
The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a fantastic and delightful collection of the professor’s original artwork for The Hobbit with insightful and alluring commentary.
July 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this book - and I actually read the text, rather than just flipping through which I often do with these kinds of books. It was really interesting to see the progress between initial sketch and final illustration, and I love so many of his images. There is something about the stylization, especially of trees and mountains, that makes me happy just by looking at it. Plus, it is so worth it to see high quality reproductions, since a lot of the nuance is lost in the published version of The Hobbit.
November 9, 2020
The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, by Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull, is a book looking at the art that J.R.R. Tolkien made for The Hobbit. Beautiful sketches and descriptions on how the art was created and the publishing decisions behind the additions are noted. A really simple book that is nonetheless a fantastic way to view The Hobbit at a deeper level, looking at the art throughout the book, and the sketch work involved. You can really see the beginnings of the Lord of the Rings script, art and so forth throughout the book. A fun read and certainly a good one for those who are fans of the Hobbit.
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December 9, 2024Coś dla maksymalistów, ponieważ album zawiera >wszystkie< ilustracje, jakie Tolkien stworzył do "Hobbita", włącznie z bardzo schematycznymi szkicami. Wydanie jest miłe dla oka i palców: na grubym papierze kredowym, w twardej oprawie wsuwanej w rękaw ze sztywnej tektury. Tekstu nie ma bardzo wiele, ale wystarczy do nadania potrzebnego kontekstu (oczywiście nie polecam sięgać po album przed przeczytaniem powieści). Ucieszy każdego, kogo interesuje także graficzna część twórczości Tolkiena.
December 31, 2020
This book is pure gem for those who are keen to learn more about Tolkien as an illustrator and about the nascency of the illustrations for the very first edition of The Hobbit. Wayne & Christina are versed chroniclers of Tolkien’s life and authors of several Tolkien Companion & Guide books. Out of those books, they evaluated the matter which suits the process of Tolkien’s creation of the illustrations for „The Hobbit“, thus this book is an important guideline and handbook for those who would like to discover the visual creation of Tolkien’s imaginary world.
May 30, 2017
I finished this half a month ago, but was so busy traveling I didn't get a chance to review it. In a word: great! Despite knowing that Tolkien drew his own maps and pictures for The Hobbit, it never really clicked with me that he was a legitimate artist.
The authors clearly did a lot of research and found early versions and sketches of the illustrations in the book and the cover art. They include highly detailed, quality reproductions of all of them, and added some other painting and drawings Tolkien did that were connected. The pictures are on fold out pages. Most of the book are the pictures, with short descriptions of their evolution to final book form.
If you are interested in how the hobbit developed, both the story and the look of it, this is another great piece to explore.
The authors clearly did a lot of research and found early versions and sketches of the illustrations in the book and the cover art. They include highly detailed, quality reproductions of all of them, and added some other painting and drawings Tolkien did that were connected. The pictures are on fold out pages. Most of the book are the pictures, with short descriptions of their evolution to final book form.
If you are interested in how the hobbit developed, both the story and the look of it, this is another great piece to explore.
June 1, 2016
So. Fucking. Cool.
It's amazing to see the genius of JRR Tolkien like this. He really was absolutely amazing. But, as I learned from this, he thought his art was really bad and would often call himself an amatuer artist. Thing is though, I think if a writer can draw, as Tolkien definitely could, their art does more justice to whatever they're trying to create than another artist can. I mean sure, Ted Nasmith has created some amazing artwork of Middle-earth. But I just think Tolkien's work is so much more *there*. Does that make sense?
The maps and the calligraphy are absolutely fascinating. He was crazy good at cartography and calligraphy it's insane. The fact he put so much effort into creating his world that he created several letters and maps that the reader would never see speaks to how truly prolific the man really is.
I think I need to buy this book so I can stare at it forever.
It's amazing to see the genius of JRR Tolkien like this. He really was absolutely amazing. But, as I learned from this, he thought his art was really bad and would often call himself an amatuer artist. Thing is though, I think if a writer can draw, as Tolkien definitely could, their art does more justice to whatever they're trying to create than another artist can. I mean sure, Ted Nasmith has created some amazing artwork of Middle-earth. But I just think Tolkien's work is so much more *there*. Does that make sense?
The maps and the calligraphy are absolutely fascinating. He was crazy good at cartography and calligraphy it's insane. The fact he put so much effort into creating his world that he created several letters and maps that the reader would never see speaks to how truly prolific the man really is.
I think I need to buy this book so I can stare at it forever.
September 19, 2012
I adore this book! It is absolutely stunning, and the information provided with each piece of art is fascinating. As a huge Tolkien fan, I am surprised that I have found yet another dimension into my favorite author, in his art and his biography. I am so glad I bought The Art of The Hobbit! A keeper.
March 4, 2020
Not only was Tolkien an excellent author, he was an excellent illustrator and designer. It was fascinating to see his design process for the original cover of The Hobbit. The illustrations in this book show how Tolkien envisioned the world of Middle Earth. Many of the illustrations included show various stages of development, form initial drawings, to the refined illustration.
June 21, 2017
I was always looking for a collection of J.R.R. Tolkien's art...
And I finally found one!
This book is so...precious!!!
Such an amazing work and study on the illustrations made by the man who created one of the most epic stories/universes of all time.
Stunning! Absolutely STUNNING!
And I finally found one!
This book is so...precious!!!
Such an amazing work and study on the illustrations made by the man who created one of the most epic stories/universes of all time.
Stunning! Absolutely STUNNING!
November 27, 2017
Interessante catalogo di tutti gli schizzi (abbozzi compresi) preparati da Tolkien stesso per illustrare lo Hobbit.
December 31, 2024
Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull deliver a detailed and insightful look at the complete drawings and sketches that JRR Tolkien did relating to The Hobbit.
From brief sketches to vividly colourful drawings, we get to see the progressions to what were to be the final versions of art which were included in the author illustrated editions of The Hobbit, and also some great pieces that did not see the light of day.
The narrative and annotations by Wayne and Christina give us that extra level of insight to guide us through what appears to be Tolkien's process, and allows to easily compare and contrast the drafts to the final versions.
There was more than one occasion where the annotations pointed some things out on the artwork that I had initially missed - and it is obvious that a lot of analysis has gone into each piece to ensure the reader captures every last detail.
I also own The Art of The Lord of the Rings, and Pictures by JRR Tolkien - which I also look forward to reading at some point.
Recommended for fans of Tolkien who enjoy the extra details, or if you just like his artwork and want to be able to own all of the art he did for The Hobbit.
From brief sketches to vividly colourful drawings, we get to see the progressions to what were to be the final versions of art which were included in the author illustrated editions of The Hobbit, and also some great pieces that did not see the light of day.
The narrative and annotations by Wayne and Christina give us that extra level of insight to guide us through what appears to be Tolkien's process, and allows to easily compare and contrast the drafts to the final versions.
There was more than one occasion where the annotations pointed some things out on the artwork that I had initially missed - and it is obvious that a lot of analysis has gone into each piece to ensure the reader captures every last detail.
I also own The Art of The Lord of the Rings, and Pictures by JRR Tolkien - which I also look forward to reading at some point.
Recommended for fans of Tolkien who enjoy the extra details, or if you just like his artwork and want to be able to own all of the art he did for The Hobbit.
May 10, 2021
This collection of Tolkien's illustrations for The Hobbit includes enchanting illustrations that bring Middle-earth to life. I didn't read the text, I just looked at the pictures. I didn't care much about the sketches, but I loved the finished artwork.
December 30, 2022
This is interesting not so much for the technical quality of the art, which is modest, but for the view into Tolkien's genius through a less-discussed perspective. Tolkien was probably one of the few authors in the 20th century who will still be read centuries from now; any glimpse of how his Big Brain worked is worth the time.
April 9, 2023
It's Tolkien's art. What more do you need.
A collection of lots of drawings, scribbles done on newspaper articles, and notes on his languages, which has been done before.
However, this collection contains the highest resolution of scans ever done and also includes several drawings in their original forms, before they were colorized for publication.
And personal notes and descriptions by Christopher Tolkien as he found the drawings, and why his father created them.
If you're a Tolkien fan, this is amazing.
A collection of lots of drawings, scribbles done on newspaper articles, and notes on his languages, which has been done before.
However, this collection contains the highest resolution of scans ever done and also includes several drawings in their original forms, before they were colorized for publication.
And personal notes and descriptions by Christopher Tolkien as he found the drawings, and why his father created them.
If you're a Tolkien fan, this is amazing.
March 20, 2017
Fascinating look at Tolkien's artwork included (and not included) in the publication of The Hobbit. One thing I came away with (beyond a better appreciation for his eye to detail) is that the current publishers of this classic text are mostly lazy and cheap. I own several editions and none have reproduced the original cloth cover as published by Allen & Unwin. Even a recent reproduction of the original dust-jacket art is compromised by not making the physical book's dimensions the same. Wonderfully insightful and detailed book but it can leave the loving fan disappointed at today's publishers.
January 15, 2021
An enjoyable companion to borrow from the library while I re-read The Hobbit.
March 18, 2024
Pretty enjoyable and informative book. If you're a fan of the book, you're going to love the pictures and drawings of this book, which offer enough background for their creation.
March 22, 2025
Questo libro è per coloro che desiderano continuare ad addentrarsi nel mondo della Terra di Mezzo ed esplorare tutti gli aspetti dell'opera di Tolkien; all'interno troviamo pagine di disegni che Tolkien ha disegnato mentre proseguiva la scrittura de Lo Hobbit. Bellissimo!!!
August 10, 2022
Very charming
May 15, 2021
Tolkien meraklıları için tam bir koleksiyon kitabı ❤️
April 14, 2018
Tolkein’s artwork for the Hobbit. Very pleasant on the eye. Looks different from my own imaginary Middle-Earth, (which resembles the movies) but this art is Tolkein’s own and gives a new understanding of the world he created.
June 28, 2014
I love beautiful Tolkien books, and I love beautiful art books. The Art Of The Hobbit is a beautiful Tolkien art book (and I love it). We own a lot of Tolkien books (I have a hard time resisting any new edition of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings), and this one is one of my favorites. It was a birthday gift from my wife a few years ago, and I'd been saving it for a while, expecting that I would really enjoy it (I don't know why I do this with books sometimes). What Hammond and Scull have put together is an example of the kind of presentation that is possible now that we're on the other side of the publication of Christopher Tolkien's History Of Middle-Earth series, Douglas Anderson's The Annotated Hobbit (which is what Hammond and Scull use as their primary authoritative source text), and John Rateliff's History of the Hobbit--all of which are excellent and highly recommended for any Tolkien bookshelf. Hammond and Scull, seemingly effortlessly, weave together strands of information and history from Tolkien studies, inviting the reader into an engaging and informative tour of Tolkien's artwork.
If a book can be judged by its cover (and despite the saying, we all know that a great many books can be so judged), then The Art of the Hobbit gets high marks just from its packaging. People who care little about Tolkien will probably wonder why the work of an amateur artist merits such lavish beauty in production. But for those of us who are fans, there is so much here to love. The book itself is housed in a sturdy cardboard slipcase (which I assume will keep the book covers from bending with humidity). The slipcase shows Tolkien's painting for the dustjacket, and when you pull out the book, you see that the book cover shows one of Tolkien's drawings for the entrance to the elvenking's hall. The matching symmetry of the two illustrations is striking, and makes for a wonderful reveal when the book is removed from the slipcase. The artwork presented within the book is large and (in some cases for the first time) shown in its original quality (subtle shading preserved, colors accurate).
I highly recommend this for any Tolkien-loving family's bookshelf. It is an instant favorite for me.
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