Incorrect Sam image on main page

[Bêthberry]

I think Barrow Wight is on to something here.

I couldn't find a lot of pictures of Sam without Frodo, so this one will continue to represent him for the time being.

Despite the vast assortment of Tolkien art, there are certainly people, things, and places that remain vastly under-represented.

After spending some time searching the Rolozo, Edoras, and Luthien galleries, I couldn't find a picture of Sam as the Ringbearer--certainly a signficant point, nor of Sam discarding his pans. Nor of Sam and Rosie. Probably even more surprising is that I couldn't find a picture of Sam planting the saplings with the dust of Galadriel's gift nor of him planting the silver nut in the Party Field. Surely this action would be important enough to deserve a painting.

Anyone up for analyzing the artwork for its omissions, inclusions, and repetitions? I wonder if that would tell us anything about Tolkien or just about the artists. For instance, do Tolkien's evocative descriptions inspire the artwork or does the plot?

Certainly given the dearth of Sam pictures which BW has uncovered, it would appear that no artist has picked up on that important point from Letter 93 which is quoted in the theme, that Sam is "the most closely drawn character, the successor to Bilbo ... the genuine hobbit."

Bethberry

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]