# Was a scene in LotR:FotR designed to look like a specific painting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258 "2008-08-25T23:11:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/1 "2008-08-25T23:11:09Z")
There’s a scene in LotR:FotR where Gandalf and the hobbits are walking in a very beautiful forest with the light forming beams as it’s cast through the trees. When I saw it I thought it looked very familiar, like I’d seen it long before the LotR films came out. In fact it might be made to look like a piece of artwork based on LotR. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/2 "2008-08-25T23:38:13Z")
Both [Alan Lee](http://www.artistsuk.co.uk/artofalanlee.html) and [John Howe](http://www.artistsuk.co.uk/acatalog/JOHN_HOWE_LORD_OF_THE_RINGS_PRINTS_POSTERS.html) were brought in at an early stage to provide visual concepts. They have both produced wonderful artwork for Tolkien books, calendars etc. So it could be a picture one of them had done that struck a chord with you. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/3 "2008-08-26T02:19:47Z")
Not sure about the scene in the OP, but I’m I can’t be the only one who thought Rivendell looked like it had been painted by Thomas Kinkade. (Ick!) ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/4 "2008-08-26T02:42:03Z")
The most famous illustrators of Tolkien before the Jackson movies were Alan Lee, John Howe, and Ted Nasmith: > **[Works inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_inspired_by_J._R._R._Tolkien)** > > The works of J. R. R. Tolkien have served as the inspiration to painters, musicians, film-makers and writers, to such an extent that he is sometimes seen as the "father" of the entire genre of high fantasy. > Do not laugh! But once upon a time (my crest has long since fallen) I had a mind to make a body of more or less connected legend, ranging from the large and cosmogonic to the level of romantic fairy-story... The cycles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other min... Lee and Howe were involved in the production of the films. Nasmith was asked to be involved but had other commitments at the time. I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw similarities between their works and the Jackson films. There are half a dozen other artists whose work (in calendars and fanzines) was well known to anyone into Tolkien heavily in the 1960’s through the 1990’s. I wish you had asked this question a couple of weeks ago. I just saw Nasmith last week and could have asked him about this. Can you specify very precisely (by the time in the movie) the scene that you’re talking about? I can ask on an E-mail mailing list about Tolkien your question. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/5 "2008-08-26T02:42:41Z")
Just Gandalf and the hobbits? What scene specifically is it? I’m having a hard time picturing it from Fellowship. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/6 "2008-08-26T15:30:09Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] Just Gandalf and the hobbits? What scene specifically is it? I’m having a hard time picturing it from Fellowship. [/QUOTE] I was almost not sure it could be possible (gandalf isn’t with the hobbits until bree) but I distinctly remember it. I think it was just Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam. And in **glee** ’s john howe link it’s ‘gandalf miniature’ that I’m thinking of… Which in hindsight is the damn book cover of my copy of LotR!!! (No wonder I’ve “seen it somewhere” :rolleyes: ) edit: added ‘not’ to the sentence to make it make sense! edit2: removed it again because I forgot about the other one :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/7 "2008-08-26T16:00:34Z")
The scene is in chapter 10 in the extended DVD of FotR, when Frodo is first setting out with Sam. Gandalf and G’s horse accompany them as far as this clearing in the forest, and Gandalf leaves them with all kinds of warnings, and promises to meet them at Bree. I don’t have my DVD here with me, but it’s about 45 minutes in (again, on the extended DVD). The scene takes place just after dawn, and the lighting is rather painterly, although it didn’t trigger any particular memories for me. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/8 "2008-08-26T16:06:38Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] The most famous illustrators of Tolkien before the Jackson movies were Alan Lee, John Howe, and Ted Nasmith [/QUOTE] Really? I would have said the Hildebrand Brothers. They WERE Tolkien illustration for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/9 "2008-08-26T16:24:08Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] I was almost not sure it could be possible (gandalf isn’t with the hobbits until bree) but I distinctly remember it. I think it was just Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam. And in **glee** ’s john howe link it’s ‘gandalf miniature’ that I’m thinking of… Which in hindsight is the damn book cover of my copy of LotR!!! (No wonder I’ve “seen it somewhere” :rolleyes: ) [/QUOTE] Glad to help. 🙂 But surely the picture is only of Gandalf (i.e. no hobbits)? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/10 "2008-08-27T02:14:01Z")
There was a lot of Tolkien illustration before the Hildebrand Brothers. In any case, I really don’t like their illustrations at all. ---
**Author:** ![mudkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/11 "2008-08-27T11:18:50Z")
There were a few bits in Fellowship that looked as if they’d been taken from LOTR art, particularly Ted Nasmith. Rivendell as mentiomed above, and also one of the Moria shots. The pan of Hobbiton near the start also looked pretty familiar. I can’t think of any offhand in TTT or ROTK though, apart from maybe the gates of Mordor. I do remember thinking though while watching Fellowship for the first time how familiar, and right, it all looked, so I’m sure there was some effort made to design the sets like some of the more well-known artwork. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/12 "2008-08-27T11:26:22Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] (gandalf isn’t with the hobbits until bree) [/QUOTE] Gandalf doesn’t make it to Bree. They don’t meet up with him until Rivendell. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/13 "2008-08-27T11:58:25Z")
I was sad it didn’t look more like a Barbara Remington. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/14 "2008-08-27T12:48:20Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Really? I would have said the Hildebrand Brothers. They WERE Tolkien illustration for a very long time. [/QUOTE] Where’s the puking smiley when I need it? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/15 "2008-08-27T12:55:21Z")
I think I heard an interview where Peter Jackson said they did try to make some scenes look like illustrations. In particular Minas Tirith was modeled after a picture. Some people were complaining that neither was much like the book description of it 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/16 "2008-08-27T13:06:45Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Where’s the puking smiley when I need it? [/QUOTE] Hey, when you grow up in the 70s, that’s all there is… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/17 "2008-08-27T13:10:24Z")
[QUOTE=wolfman] I think I heard an interview where Peter Jackson said they did try to make some scenes look like illustrations. In particular Minas Tirith was modeled after a picture. Some people were complaining that neither was much like the book description of it 😉 [/QUOTE] Interesting! What inaccuracies were complained about, the layout or the appearance? ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/18 "2008-08-27T13:28:39Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] Interesting! What inaccuracies were complained about, the layout or the appearance? [/QUOTE] I’m interested in this, too. Jackson screwed a lot of things up, but he also got a lot of things right, and I thought the set designs were done right. RR ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/19 "2008-08-27T13:44:00Z")
jayjay writes: \> Hey, when you grow up in the 70s, that’s all there is… Actually, there was a tradition of Tolkien illustration in the 1970’s which was mostly appearing in amateur publications. It influenced later artists like Howe, Lee, and Nasmith. Unfortunately, the calendars in the U.S., which were the art seen by most Tolkien readers, used the Hildebrand Brothers, which were rather poor, I thought. I consider them even worse than Barbara Remington’s covers for the books. Remington at least had the excuse that she hadn’t read the books. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-scene-in-lotr-fotr-designed-to-look-like-a-specific-painting/461258/20 "2008-08-27T13:49:10Z")
Before we get much further on this, I am NOT touting the Brothers Hildebrandt as the bestest Tolkien illustrators ever…I’m merely noting that to someone who was in single-digits in the 70s and a teenager in the 80s, the Hildebrandts were the most prominent Tolkien illustrators in the general public’s sphere of knowledge, and as I was (as almost everyone was at that time) not on the internet (and generally unaware of its existence), the general public’s sphere of knowledge about Tolkien and Tolkien illustrators was all I had. The Hildebrandts fall into the sphere of “nostalgia” for me now, so I will admit a certain softness of [del]head[/del] heart for them, but I’m certainly not going to try to argue their supremacy of talent or execution.