Pauline Baynes passes away

[Voronwë the Faithful]

An important figure in the Tolkien universe has joined the realm of the ancestors (or perhaps has gone to the Halls of Waiting).

We've just had the sad news that Pauline Baynes, the esteemed artist, illustrator of Tolkien's Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book, Smith of Wootton Major, Bilbo's Last Song, etc., and of Lewis's Narnia books, passed away a few days ago at her home in Surrey. She would have turned 86 next month.

A sad loss, but she will continue to live on through her wonderful illustrations, which provided the perfect complement for many of Tolkien shorter (but still beloved) pieces of fiction.

[ArathornJax]

Yes, a sad loss but as you mentioned Vornowe she will live on in the works she has left, and in the memories of those that loved her.

[Andreth]

I always thought her style looked like the medieval illumated manuscripts I've seen. Lovely and delicate. My mom based a masquarade costume off her illustration of Jadis from the Magician's Nephew. She will be missed.

[Pearly Di]

I never met Pauline professionally but an editor I used to work for had a good working relationship with her.

To me, Pauline was Narnia.

Tolkien loved her illustrations too. I agree with Andreth on their delicate medieval quality.

Rest in peace, good lady!

[Primula Baggins]

I'm sorry to hear this (though of course 85 is a ripe old age). Her illustrations for Narnia are beautiful but matter-of-fact; her mythical creatures look possible and "real." And there is nothing childish or sentimental about the drawings.

I have no doubt that her work contributed greatly to the books' success, where a lesser artist might actually have done them harm.

[Scarlet]

Pauline Baynes' drawings were a part of my childhood; they even inspired me to attempt my own illuminated-manuscript-type illustrations.

I'm sad to hear she is gone.

[Teremia]

The Narnia drawings are a lovely and essential part of the world for me. How often did I come back to them and try to find clues about the color of Susan's or Lucy's hair?

[truehobbit]

And just today I noticed that the drawings in my Narnia books were by Pauline Baynes, and I thought, well, no wonder that's what came to mind first when thinking of something to praise in those books.

Thanks for the info, Voronwë, although it's sad.

[solicitr]

One of my favorite books when I was small, even before I discovered The Hobbit, was a volume called "St George and the Dragon", which was a retelling of Canto 1 of the Faerie Queene. But what I loved about it, and why I got it out of the library time after time, were the wonderful mock-woodcut illustrations.

It was only long, long afterwards that I learned they were by Pauline Baynes.

Link




Edited by Prim at 8:51 PDT to put long link behind a cut.

[Primula Baggins]

Soli, really long links stretch the page for people, so when possible would you mind posting them by typing

[ url= http:/bighugeurl.com]Whatever link name you want[ /url]

without the spaces inside the brackets? Thanks!

[Rowanberry]

I've only seen Baynes's Tolkien illustrations before, but many of them were among the best. Sad to hear about her passing.

The St. George illustrations are very nice, just like from some medieval manuscript.

[Old_Tom_Bombadil]

I've had one of Pauline Bayne's works as my signature for quite some time. (Old Badger-brock from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.) When I was a teenager I had her well-known illustrated map of Middle-earth displayed on the wall of my bedroom. A few years ago I purchased I purchased a book of her illustrations for Bilbo's Last Song.

Yes, it is sad when someone passes, but at least from casual appearances it would seem she lived a long life making a living from something she loved doing. I wish that all of us could be so fortunate.

Thank you, Ms. Baynes, for sharing your gifts with us.