This is indeed in interesting thread. I agree that the look and feeling of Middle-earth in the movies seemed immediately so "right" to most people was to a large extent thanks to Alan Lee and John Howe's well-known and beloved illustrations.
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Bethberry asked:
What I would like to know is why Lee had Eowyn's and Aragorn's hands touch in the painting. Was he implying anything about the relationship as he saw it in the book? Yes, I know it is possible simply for hands to meet in the grasping of an object, but it is also possible for them not to.
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The touching of their hands is straight from the book, and not an implication by Alan Lee!
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Théoden drank from the cup, and she then proffered it to the guests. As she stood before Aragorn she paused suddenly and looked upon him, and her eyes were shining. And he looked down upon her fair face and smiled; but as he took the cup, his hand met hers, and he knew that she trembled at the touch. "Hail Aragorn son of Arathorn!" she said. "Hail Lady of Rohan!" he answered, but his face now was troubled and he did not smile.
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Aragorn is very perceptive, he realizes in this moment that Eowyn is drawn towards him in a way that he cannot return, and is sorry for it. He wishes in no way to encourage her feelings.
Hilde's post is also very interesting, I agree about Eowyn seeing an ideal in Aragorn.