Tolkien, the Artist

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Esty

I'd like to proceed as the book does, beginning with his early works of art and sharing some of the information with those who do not have access to this great book.

Now that I can see the book, I can refer to some of those early works, just as you mentioned! His sketches of Whitby fascinated me as I did not know he had been there, and like everyone else who visits the town, he seems to have found three things interesting: the bridge and harbour, the abbey and the 199 steps and the old town (his picture of this is sadly not in this book).

Out of interest, his sketch of the swing bridge reflects a scene that can still be seen to this day; only the small cluster of buildings immediately to the right of the bridge have since been demolished. Here is the same scene as photographed by Frank Meadow Sutcliffe in the late 1800's, before the new bridge, and here it is today. I think he'd be pleased to know that the orcs hadn't spoiled the place too much. And it does have a Middle Earth Tavern.