(Click second thumbnail above to watch video)
 
Museum-Quality Matte Paper Print available in two sizes:
12" x 16" (30cm x 40cm): $35.00
24" x 32" (60cm x 80cm): $48.00
 
“With that he picked up his lilies, and then with a beckoning wave of his hand went hopping and dancing along the path eastward, still singing loudly and nonsensically.” - The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 6: The Old Forest
 
There are few chapters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings more woven ‘round with enchantments than those which take us into the Old Forest. This original, handpainted scene depicts Tom Bombadil’s rescue of the hobbits and their ponies from Old Man Willow and the weird, dreamlike haze of the Withywindle.
 
Things to notice in this Tolkien-inspired art print:
 
Tom hops away along the riverbank with the waterlilies he is carrying to Goldberry.
Sam urges Merry and Pippin to hurry away from Old Man Willow.
Frodo is already mounted, and eager to follow Tom, just like the little ponies, White-socks, Wise-nose, Sharp-ears, Swish-tail, and Bumpkin.
Millions of willow leaves drift through the air.
My depiction of Old Man Willow is based upon Professor Tolkien’s own artwork, and an important hint once mentioned by his son, John, that this alarming tree was inspired by an unpollarded willow along the River Cherwell. White willow is very common there, so this is what guided me in my artistic decisions.
If you look very closely, you can see the suggestion of an eye and mouth on Old Man Willow.
 
No one wrote better fairy stories than J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s a pity that the Old Forest episode is sometimes overlooked, because it is unforgettable. Celebrate the genius of J.R.R. Tolkien’s astounding and original writing by hanging a museum-quality print of this fascinating scene in your home!