Tears unnumbered, lineart wip
Added 2019-02-08 15:31:46 +0000 UTCAnd wouldn't you know? 8 to 15 February has "Tears" as its Month of Love art challenge prompt. How very apt. It looks as if I'll be joining. I think I did "Polaris" for Month of Love two years ago.
There are loads of fanart images of the aftermath of Nirnaeth Arnoediad, with Maedhros holding a dead Fingon in his arms. While I love the drama, I just can't see how that could have happened. I don't think Maedhros ever saw Fingon's body. The Western and Eastern armies had been separated, and it was all the Fëanoreans could do to hew their way out and escape to the South. It would have been an incredible feat to hew their way all the way through Morgoth's hosts again to reach the place where Fingon had died, and while I wouldn't put it past Maedhros, I feel certain Tolkien would have mentioned it. ;)
Comments
It’s beautiful even when I know the finished piece will appropriately fill my eyes with tears. For me, this is the most poignant moment of the whole Silmarillion story. My poor Maedhros, my favorite character. That his perfect plan has failed and that it cost the lives of his best friend and many more. That, just like his father’s jewels, this is one work (his father being a forger of wonders, he’d be a forger of strategies and alliances) he’ll never be able to do again. The description of the Fëanorions afterwards, scattered like leaves before the wind, always breaks my heart.
Laura Michel
2019-02-09 09:32:07 +0000 UTCI love the drama of him holding his body as well, but you're right, there's a low possibility it actually happened. Of course, this does lend to the idea that poor Maedhros was waiting for news from his cousin, hope fading every day that it doesn't arrive.
Evelyn Maire
2019-02-09 03:08:03 +0000 UTCTHANK YOU! Thank you so much for showing it the way it is written down by Tolkien! I can enjoy drama, but yes, please... I love the text so much (and tbh, Maedhros hearing about Fingon's death AFTERWARDS is asdramatic as any other settings! Anyways, this is a promising sketch, but, honestly... you want my heart to break, don't you?
Litsen
2019-02-08 19:26:53 +0000 UTCOh wait, I thought of one: he does try to find Elurin and Elured.
Liv Klein
2019-02-08 19:03:09 +0000 UTCPoor Maedhros. Every decision he makes from here on turns out bad... Maglor at least gets to rescue Elrond and Elros.
Liv Klein
2019-02-08 18:49:04 +0000 UTCExactly - you know that all is lost, and there are still a hundred pages left for things to get even worse before the end. :(
Jenny Dolfen
2019-02-08 18:39:09 +0000 UTCBetter this way. One of the saddest moments in the entire saga.
Steven Tryon
2019-02-08 18:26:00 +0000 UTCOh Jenny this is heart-rending. My poor Maedhros. And yes to him being exhausted, sweaty, disheveled, bloodstained. And utterly grief stricken. I think this event breaks something in him. It causes as deep a psychological wound as his captivity. And I agree--there is no way he saw Fingon's body. They were too far and desperately trying to escape with their lives. No, I think he likely felt something and then heard it from someone who was there and somehow survived. This artwork is going to break my heart but he is beautiful in his grief.
PL
2019-02-08 16:11:50 +0000 UTCI love his hair here, too! I made it a little sweat-matted, I mean, even Elven hair will show some wear after a couple of days under a helm... And yes - there'll be quite a bit of blood. Although it's incredibly easy to go overboard with that in watercolour, so I'll need to place it well.
Jenny Dolfen
2019-02-08 15:53:54 +0000 UTCYes! thank you for saying it! So many artworks go beyond logic of the book it really hurts me. It is also said they all were wounded too. I really love that art - and Nelyo's hair is my love forever!
Yollie
2019-02-08 15:47:44 +0000 UTCThis is going to be an amazing painting. Grateful for your continued inspiration, Jenny!
Sam Ramji
2019-02-08 15:35:16 +0000 UTC
