Had all J.R.R. Tolkien's elves been like the Vanyar, The Silmarillion would not exist. Ingwë, High King of all the elves, is satisfied to stay in Valinor once he and his host reach its shores and see its beauty. They rejoice in its forests, in basking in the the light of the Two Trees, and in being close to the Valar. The Vanyar are the most beloved of Manwë and Elbereth. We see that the art of contentment belongs to this smallest group of elves, but we know little more than this about most of them.
Instead, and in his wisdom, Tolkien gives us the Noldor and the Teleri, whose strife and struggles are more immediately relatable to much of our own human history. We see greed and self-concern conquer Fëanor. We see his sons destroyed by misplaced loyalty to very bad ideas. We see the promise of control entice Galadriel. But we also see the valor of the sons of Indis of the Vanyar, and the self-sacrifice of Círdan, Glorfindel, Eärendil, and so many others. An epic arises from the choices of each character, with downfall and glory seemingly just steps away throughout every Age.
The Silmarillion is fascinating, gripping, engrossing, distressing, inspiring, beautiful, brilliant, stunning. So much happens that we may lose sight of the quiet choice of the Vanyar amid all the restless movements of the other elves.
In painting "Ingwë and the Vanyar in the Light of the Two Trees", I hoped to spend time contemplating the restfulness of contentment. While it is debatable whether the Valar made a mistake in bringing the elves to Valinor, I always feel shocked that any of them could want to leave. Here, we see the golden-haired Vanyar in a beautiful birchwood, in that soft gold and silver radiance. Ingwë stands in the foreground, listening respectfully to a tree while his host wanders about speaking to and celebrating the birches. We know that elves began waking up the trees in Middle-earth, and I have no doubt that they would have been close to the flora of the Blessed Realm.
We, of course, live in Middle-earth - not in Aman - but at least to some degree, the choice of the Vanyar is open to many of us. We can also be inspired by the open hands of the Teleri, who scatter beauty instead of hoarding it. The splendor of our forests and shores and songs and simplest pleasures can be chosen over rings and jewels and power. It takes an active choice to emulate the Vanyar, I suppose, in our commercial age in which contentment is sold as something to be purchased materially, often at the expense of others, but at least Tolkien has pointed out to all his readers that such a choice exists. That is a great gift, worthy of reflection.
Painting Valinor always moves me into a state of awe. I feel trepidatious about even attempting to depict its sub-created holiness, sensing that I am treading on Tolkien's sacred ground. But, then, I think, others besides myself are especially thirsty these days for scenes of peace, joy, bliss, quiet, light, verdure, goodness. I hope spending time with the Vanyar in the Light of the Two Trees is restorative to your spirit, and that this video short brings some contentment to your heart today.