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The Wanderer

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The Wanderer


“ Unhappy was the lot of Húrin. For all that Morgoth knew of the working of his malice Húrin knew also; but lies were mingled with the truth, and aught that was good was hidden or distorted. He that sees through the eyes of Morgoth, willing or unwilling, sees all things crooked.

It was Morgoth's special endeavour to cast an evil light upon all that Thingol and Melian had done, for he feared and hated them most; and when, therefore, he deemed the time ripe, in the year after the death of Túrin he released Húrin from bondage, bidding him go whither he would.

He feigned that in this he was moved by pity for an enemy utterly defeated, marvelling at his endurance. ‘Such steadfastness,’ he said, ‘should have been shown in a better cause, and would have been otherwise rewarded. But I have no longer any use for you, Húrin, in the waning of your little life.’ And he lied, for his purpose was that Húrin should still further his malice against Elves and Men, ere he died.

Then little though Húrin trusted aught that Morgoth said or did, knowing that he was without pity, he took his freedom and went forth in grief, embittered by the deceits of the Dark Lord.

Twenty-eight years Húrin was captive in Angband, and at his release was in his sixtieth year, but great strength was in him still, in spite of the weight of his grief, for it suited the purpose of Morgoth that this should be so. He was sent under guard as far as the east-marches of Hithlum, and there he was set free.

None that had known him in youth could mistake him still, though he had grown grim to look on: his hair and beard were white and long, but there was a fell light in his eyes. He walked unbowed, and yet carried a great black staff; but he was girt with his sword.”


-- J. R. R. Tolkien: The Wanderings of Húrin (HoME XI)


Vaka vanha Väinämöinen
astuvi kohen kotia
alla päin, pahoilla mielin,
kaiken kallella kypärin.
Itse tuon sanoiksi kertoi:
“Ei tuota enämpi olle
hauin hampahan iloa,
kalanluista luikutusta!”

Thereupon the ancient minstrel
Left the waters, homeward hastened,
Cap pulled down upon his forehead,
Sang this song with sorrow laden:
“Nevermore shall I awaken
With my harp-strings, joy and gladness!”

-- Kalevala, Rune XLIV. The (rather free) traslation is by John Martin Crawford (1888)



The wizened wanderer, shadowed by grief, roams on… without home, without destination; his heart torn, his song silenced...

Two fairly different characters were the main sources of inspiration for this drawing: the first one was Húrin, obviously.. this is how I imagine him. The second one was the warrior-wizard Väinämöinen (:sing: Wainamoinen, old and truthful; The eternal, wise enchanter.. :music: ;)), the greatest hero of the Finnish national epic, Kalevala. Something about his countenance just made me think of the ancient sage.. (..who for some reason seems to be wearing Jedi robes.. :hmm:)

Pencil + the usual "parchment treatment" in Photoshop. I went for a slightly more realistic look than usual, with more crosshatching and less outlines.. although it's still essentially a line drawing. This started life as a simple elderly face/walking pose doodle.. sometime in March, I think. When I found it among my WIP papers this week I liked so much I simply had to finish it as a deviation.. even though I really wouldn’t have ha the time to spare.. I’ll have to skip sleeping again.. :doh:



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StavrosFromPVegeta's avatar
Sublime. Archetypal...