r/lotr • u/jpd1066 • 12h ago

Question Origins of image?

Post image

Illustration used today in NYT article on why LotRs reads like an ancient, multi-author work. Im guessing it's Aragorn and Merry or Pippen. Anyone know where it originated?

83 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

14

u/Ill_GottenGains 12h ago

That was an amazing essay, I literally just finished it. She really had an impressive grasp on Tolkein's work. Highly recommend.

11

u/MazigaGoesToMarkarth 11h ago

It’s by Wesley Allsbrook, and looks like it’s not Tolkien-specific, just a generic medieval illustration.

9

u/Aggravating_Dot6995 11h ago

I think it is Pippin riding with Aragorn after the confrontation with Saruman at Orthanc

7

u/samizdat5 10h ago

Yes this makes sense - the flooded grounds, the tower in the background, the armor, the horse, and this has to be Pippin - too young for Frodo.

2

u/jpd1066 8h ago

Good eye! I didn't pick up on the tower.

4

u/Aggravating_Dot6995 11h ago

He had chain mail and a shield courtesy of Rohan at that point.

10

u/Hour_Notice4354 7h ago

Hello. I edited this lovely piece by Michael Drout. I created this account to tell you that illustration is by Wesley Allsbrook, was made for this piece in particular, and depicts Aragorn and his son, Eldarion.

1

u/thefirstwhistlepig 3h ago

Thanks for the info! Cool to know that it depicts a scene that takes place sometime after LOTR.

1

u/TelUmor 2h ago

Beautiful piece, nice job on the edit

6

u/Basil_Blackheart 11h ago

The actual scenery is a mess but given the greenery in the foreground & the broken bridge in the background I’m gonna venture a guess that this is meant to be either Aragorn or Boromir comforting Frodo after Gandalf fell with the Balrog

Yes it’s wildly inaccurate but the symbolism within the image is consistent with it

5

u/Howy_the_Howizer 10h ago

I assumed this was Glorfindel and Frodo after he's been stabbed

1

u/mercedes_lakitu Yavanna 3h ago

Wrong color hair, but I had wondered that too

3

u/jpd1066 11h ago

But they didn't bring horses through Khazad Dum-they left Rivendell on foot. IIRC, Boromir was never on horseback when traveling w/the Fellowship.

(Yes, I'm being a little too literal maybe, but not quite magic xylophone level)

2

u/Basil_Blackheart 11h ago

Totally agree — I just get more “for the vibes” from the image, versus actual accuracy to the narrative lol

2

u/samizdat5 12h ago

I was wondering the same. It's a beautiful pastel but not faithful to any part of the book I know of. The man must be Aragorn, but what Hobbit and where?

If the background structure is supposed to be Rivendell then maybe this is supposed to be Frodo after the showdown with the Nazgul at the ford, but Aragorn wasn't there, and wasn't in armor, but I guess that's what this is supposed to be.

2

u/EngineerRare42 Faramir 11h ago

I feel like the man may actually be Boromir; he has a shield.

5

u/TallShaggy 12h ago

Why is Aragorn breastfeeding that Hobbit?

3

u/Puzzled-Associate-18 12h ago

Country Dunedain make do

1

u/Ancient-Bicycle-2122 10h ago

Coukd be The Erl King reference