Ever had that feeling where a picture reminds you of a favourite #Tolkien character? Well, I have, and I cordially invite you to hitch a ride on the MEGA-THREAD that is Pictures that Should Have Been Tolkienian. Btw, is that Gandalf? No, sorry it's Georg von Rosen's Odin (1886) Lobelia Sackville-Baggins prepares a letter of complaint to Sharkey, whilst the late Otho looks on... No, sorry, this is Portrait of Lady Dacre (c 1555-1558) by Tudor-gentry-loving Flemish allegorical painter Hans Eworth #Tolkien

So, on this day in 1937 The #Hobbit (see #Tolkien cover below👇) was published. To mark this auspicious occasion, I present an old thread newly entitled 'My Top 10 (Not Quite Definitive) Favourite (Mostly Published) Illustrations of Hobbits (And Not Just Bilbo) Ever (Almost)'... First up and holding fast at No.10 is the #Hobbit that inspired my first ever oil painting - Michael Hague's Bilbo from Riddles in the Dark (1984). My own version featured the same red waistcoat, the same green cloak, but, sadly, not the same artistic skill #Tolkien (1/10)

In 1976 "Plop!", DC's oddly titled "New Magazine of Weird Humour" published a #LOTR parody by comic hero Wally Wood entitled "The King of the Ring". It was short, sweet with excellent retro art and jokes which verge from great to awful. Sit back and enjoy (kind of) (1) #Tolkien Page 1 kicks off with Gondeaf the wizard arriving at the Georgian-styled home of Froydo the "Habbit". Notice how 1960s hippy favourite Wood is still down with the kids with his anachronistic use of "Gee whizz!" and "Wow!". The pizza joke is still pretty good though (2) #Tolkien

#Tolkien & Art MEGA THREAD alert!
Ever get that feeling where a picture reminds you of a fave #LOTR character? Well, if you've follow me you'll know its a little obsession of mine. So tonight, hitch a ride on the eagle that is Pictures that Should Have Been Tolkienian (Gandalf?) A Silent Watcher guards the entrance to Cirith Ungol.
No sorry, that single head is a no-no. Actually this is Resistance, or The Black Idol (1903) by Orphic cubist and symbolist František Kupka. Based on the Colossi of Memnon, but with a Bram Stoker vibe #Dracula #Tolkien

#Tolkien illustration MEGA-THREAD Alert!
Lately I've been on a visual odyssey, happily tweeting key #LotR moments as depicted by two different illustrators. I'm not finished yet (haven't even reached Mordor) but have a look at the journey so far...
(Image: Roger Garland c.1987) As a little thank you to all the kind souls who have borne my ramblings to the verge of 1000 followers I present a whistle stop visual tour of #LotR
Same scene/two artists - first up Gandalf arrives in Hobbiton by Michael Kaluta (c. 1993) and Sergei Iukhimov (1991) #Tolkien