Professor Tolkien has just risen from his desk, for a moment. His pipe is still smoking in a china bowl, and his dip pen rests for a moment from his devoted correspondence. More pipes fill his Toby Jug and Capstan "Navy Cut" tobacco is close at hand to fill the caramel-colored pouch. There is a prized box of colored Walkden sealing wax. He's been rooting in one of the desk drawers for nibs and the shining box of pencils is a temptation to doodle insignia and branching fantasy on the pages of the nearest newspaper. Snapdragons, daisies, and white umbellifers fill the vase beside the ink well - do they make you think of anything?
But mostly there are letters. Letters to read. Letters to answer. The letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, which have done so much to enrich our understanding of both the man and his literary masterpieces, deserve to be celebrated.
I am so honored to be sharing this painting of "Professor Tolkien's Desk" today. It was kindly commissioned by Jeremy Edmonds of the Tolkien Collector's Guide to illuminate their marvelous Guide to Tolkien's Letters. It was such a privilege to consult resource materials with Jeremy to determine what he wanted to include in this still life, meant to memorialize Tolkien's outstanding epistolary gifts. So many Tolkien fans have favorite letters, and we are all in the Professor's debt for his willingness to explain his sub-creation to anyone who wrote to him. In choosing objects for the painting, care was taken to accurately depict such books and belongings of the Professor as have been, at times, publicly displayed. It is so gratifying to know that the Tolkien Collector's Guide's many fans will now get to spend some happy moments imagining the joy of standing near Tolkien's desk and admiring his work.
There is one little tidbit I would like to share that I noticed while working on this commission. I do not know when J.R.R. Tolkien came into possession of his jolly Toby Jug. I had often seen these brought in to the British Antiques Roadshow, but it was only when I began to sketch and paint this particular jug that I realized that, with the exception of the tri-corn hat, I appeared to be depicting a hobbit. The figure sports a green coat and a yellow waistcoat (the fashionable colors of hobbit attire). He holds a pipe in one hand and a mug of ale in the other. He most definitely has the "round, jovial face" the author describes as typical of Halflings in The Lord of the Rings. As for the footwear, perhaps this Toby is from Buckland, where the inhabitants sometimes clad their furry feet due to mud. It may be that the distinctly Georgian gentleman depicted in the object has nothing whatsoever to do with hobbits, but I couldn't help thinking of Tolkien answering his letters and looking at this funny little person looking down at him over the cubby holes. If anyone knows anything more about the origins of the Toby Jug in the Tolkien family household, I'd love to hear it!
What a marvelous way to start the new year, getting to celebrate our beloved Professor with everyone in the Tolkien Community. I am deeply grateful to Jeremy for the commission of such a heartwarming scene, and for his gracious permission to display the work in my portfolio.