Pauline Baynes

[calimac]

When J.R.R. Tolkien's publishers sent him a portfolio by a young artist they thought suitable to illustrate his story Farmer Giles of Ham, Tolkien as a medievalist was attracted by some pastiches she had done of medieval manuscript illustrations. She was commissioned for the job on that basis, and it's great to read the famously grouchy Tolkien crowing with delight at the result:

I am pleased with them beyond even the expectations aroused by the first examples. They are more than illustrations, they are a collateral theme. I showed them to my friends [this would be the Inklings] whose polite comment was that they reduced my text to a commentary on the drawings. (Letter no. 120)

He was right, and today I'd find it impossible to imagine Tolkien's mock-medieval story without the equally humorous mock-medieval illuminations by Pauline Baynes.

Baynes went on to illustrate more Tolkien books, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Smith of Wootton Major, and prepared a map of Middle-earth, and, after the author's death, made an illustrated book out of his short poem Bilbo's Last Song. She would even have been commissioned to illustrate The Lord of the Rings had there been room in the publishing budget for it; how about that? She was a lifelong friend of the Tolkien family. Tolkien recommended her to C.S. Lewis and she illustrated the entire Chronicles of Narnia. And she illustrated a lot of other things.

She died a few days ago at the age of 85. Her art will live on. Farmer Giles in particular is marvelous, simply marvelous.

Comments

[booksbynight.livejournal.com]

I can't see any other illustrations than hers for Narnia. Call me old-fashioned.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that; her work is absolutely wonderful. Rest in peace.

[scribblerworks.livejournal.com]

A pity to lose her, but what a delightful body of work she's left for us.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that. Her drawings have never gotten stale--they are still as delightful as the first glimpse.

[pnh.livejournal.com]

I have commented, and linked to you, at tor.com.

Pauline Baynes was Tolkien to me.

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

I treasure her art in my Tolkien Reader and Narnia books.

re: Pauline Baynes

[a-blue-moon-cat.livejournal.com]

She did do a map of the Shire, or maybe all of M-E. I don't know if I have it now or if it got lost in the house fire. I always enjoyed her artwork/illustrations from when I first saw them. The stylized medieval look of some of her work is very pleasing to my eyes. :)

Re: Pauline Baynes

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

The poster map that Baynes drew was an elaboration on the big folded map of Middle-earth in LOTR. It included a few place-name additions that Tolkien gave her, so it's a primary source!