77
●
FRANK FRAZETTA.
Lord of the Rings.
Pen, pencil, and ink on paper. 390x465 mm; 15
1
/
2
x18
1
/
4
inches. Few soft creases and light
smudging. Unsigned in frame. 1975.
[8,000/12,000]
In 1975 Frazetta published an interpretation of Lord Of the Rings (Denver: Middle Earth, 1975)
comprising a portfolio of 6 lithographs (with the first plate of each suite signed by Frazetta) illustrating
Tolkien’s classic fantasy in an edition of 1000 numbered copies.This is one of the original drawings
retained by the publisher of the portfolio.Though lacking his signature, Frazetta was notoriously reluc-
tant to sign works of his that he didn’t own.The subject appears to feature what is likely Bilbo and a
Warg, an encounter fromThe Hobbit rather than the trilogy, nevertheless it was included in the limited
edition portfolio.
This is apparently a preliminary but still finished drawing for Plate 3 retained by the publisher and dif-
fering from the published version in only minor details.While the published picture is a vertical, this one
is a horizontal which may explain why the roots in the lower part of the final design are somewhat
shorter in this rendering. Perhaps the ink splatter visible above the central mushroom on the moss cov-
ered log between the Hobbit and the Warg, not evident in the published picture, convinced the artist to
redo the drawing.
