Depictions of Balrogs

[Radaghast]

A question on Quora prompted me to look for a book-accurate rendering of Durin's Bane, and the movie version (whatever else one may think of it) is not it. No, the description is not very detailed but how much creative license is too much?

I've never cared for the movie version.

Those stupid horns that don't seem to serve any practical (offensive) function. Same for the silly little flapless wings that just sit on its back and generate smoke. Also, the fact that it doesn't seem to be very fast but can still just appear where it needs to be. Meh (at best).

Anyway, to review the book description:

The ranks of the orcs had opened, and they crowded away, as if they themselves were afraid. Something was coming up behind them. What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it.

It came to the edge of the fire and the light faded as if a cloud had bent over it. Then with a rush it leaped across the fissure. The flames roared up to greet it, and wreathed about it; and a black smoke swirled in the air. Its streaming mane kindled, and blazed behind it. In its right hand was a blade like a stabbing tongue of fire; in its left it held a whip of many thongs.

If the description is vague, it's meant to be. The creature's features are difficult to see. It's shrouded in darkness, except for the flame, which does not illuminate it.

Anyway, my Internet search yielded nothing remotely close to that description. Instead, I found depictions even more outlandish. The most infamous is probably that of the Ralph Bakshi film:

Just what in the unholy heck is this?

Somehow, though, I'm not sure that is the worst. I don't know how anyone could have read the book and come up with this:

This would not be out of place in a Rankin and Bass adaptation.

Then there's this one by the Bros. Hildebrandt.

More or less ridiculous than the one before (and is that a grass skirt it's wearing)? Better illustrated perhaps, but it's fairly ridiculous to my eyes. Whatever the case, I'm also concerned about the figures behind it. Is one mean to be an orc (the one that looks like a kobold) and the other a troll (looks rather like an evil dwarf)? Also, Gandalf doesn't look like he's smiting the bridge; he looks like more like he's shooting fire at it.

This one may be the worst I've seen yet (and I don't mean the quality of the illustration):

Honestly, six upper limbs? And none of the four arms are holding a sword 🤨😖

Anyone else have any "favorites"? Also, I'm wondering if anyone can pose any legit book-accurate renditions.

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

Anyone else have any "favorites"? Also, I'm wondering if anyone can pose any legit book-accurate renditions.

Hmm... Out of these? I don't really know. I'll look for a book-accurate version, and if I can't find one, I may take matters into my own hands. (How hard can it be to draw a Balrog)

 

[Radaghast]

Hmm... Out of these? I don't really know. I'll look for a book-accurate version, and if I can't find one, I may take matters into my own hands. (How hard can it be to draw a Balrog)

I'd be interested in seeing that. I did one a looong time ago for an illustration class; it was actually of the scene at the Bridge (the assignment was to do a book cover). If I find it I might post it (if I can drum up the courage).

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

(if I can drum up the courage).

YOU'VE GOT THIS! 🥁

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Maybe I'll have to give it a shot too! And maybe take it as an excuse to draw Glorfindel too, in his fight against the Balrog. (I almost made a large drawing of him instead of Maedhros, back when I was brand new to the Silmarillion and trying to decide on an Elf to draw. Hoping to finish that drawing soon, by the way!)

 

[Vorondil]

(if I can drum up the courage).

The worst that can happen is we all laugh at you.

Just kidding I would never do that.

 

[Radaghast]

The worst that can happen is we all laugh at you.

Very well, have at it, but only if you do it like this:

Just kidding I would never do that.

😎

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

I'd love to see that, @Maedhros_Nelyafinwë !

 

[Ent]

Anyone else have any "favorites"?

Sadly, there is one 'soon to come' Ent thinks is pretty well done...but is part of a book yet to be released. He's helping edit that book... hopefully it will be out soon. That doesn't help us now, he knows. But a clearer head is working on many things in this book.

 

[Ent]

(How hard can it be to draw a Balrog)

umnhhhh.... given the many different thoughts about them, prejudiced by prior views of them through the (sometimes noxious) efforts of other 'illustrators', it has become quite difficult.

Certainly an arena where 'some can be pleased with "a", some with "b", but there can never be the all-encompassing "c"'.

I'd be interested in seeing that. I did one a looong time ago for an illustration class; it was actually of the scene at the Bridge (the assignment was to do a book cover). If I find it I might post it (if I can drum up the courage).

Ent would love to see this as well.
We're a family here, ready to appreciate all our members' efforts, and all of their art... whether it be what we normally think of as 'art', or their poetic art, or their art in producing writings for the RedBook or the Library of the Istari... or even just their art at putting words together well on a daily basis in posts.

We may have disagreements about some of the content, but what we can hope is those disagreements can be discussed and used for the improvement and growth of all, and not argued over which merely suggests a devotion to opinion.

Judge Judy should be the only person on this planet who insists "her opinion is the only one that counts". (And in that small venue within which she is paid to please a certain faction of the public, she is correct. She gets paid handsomely to act like a complete, uneducated, demeaning idiot and fool. Frankly, her one virtue is she presents an excellent character study for authors who want to depict well characters having a certain personality type in their books.)

As for the rest of us... we (should) strive to do better.

 

[Radaghast]

Well, I can hardly not post it now. My only hope is that I won't be able to find it 😁

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Just what in the unholy heck is this?

Looks like a bal-moth 😳

 

[d4rk3lf]

For me, this is the closest I've seen, that reminds me on the book description.
Although - scale is wrong.. he is too big in this drawing.... Balrogs should be larger then humans (maybe 2,5-3 meters), but not giants. ..

Also, here is an interesting video and drawing of Balrog version that I also like:

 

[Radaghast]

For me, this is the closest I've seen, that reminds me on the book description.
Although - scale is wrong.. he is too big in this drawing.... Balrogs should be larger then humans (maybe 2,5-3 meters), but not giants. ..

Also, here is an interesting video and drawing of Balrog version that I also like:

Yes, I think this is more in the spirit of the book description, if a bit too big.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

For me, this is the closest I've seen, that reminds me on the book description.
Although - scale is wrong.. he is too big in this drawing.... Balrogs should be larger then humans (maybe 2,5-3 meters), but not giants. ..

Also, here is an interesting video and drawing of Balrog version that I also like:

Does it have wings as well?!
I think I'm mistaken but it seems like this one has wings like a moth , maybe it's just me

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

For me, this is the closest I've seen, that reminds me on the book description.
Although - scale is wrong.. he is too big in this drawing.... Balrogs should be larger then humans (maybe 2,5-3 meters), but not giants. ..

Also, here is an interesting video and drawing of Balrog version that I also like:

This one reminds me of Dr Octopus from Spiderman with the arms coming out the back

 

[Ent]

There are so many things to remember about the Balrog most pictures forget:
Better if they show them consistent with description.
Examples:
1. It is written the head of a man comes about to the waist/stomache of the balrog. In the one big picture above, Gandalf doesn't even reach his knee.
2. The text says "from out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming." So the Balrog is of such shadow as to literally hide swords and flame.
3. "It came to the edge of the fire (not its own), and the light faded as if a cloud had bent over it."
4. "The flames roared up to greet...and a black smoke swirled in the air, it's streaming mane kindled." (how often do we see it's 'streaming mane' ???)
...... at this point we do see the blade and the whip.)
5. "The dark figure 'streaming with fire' raced towards them." What fire? It's own, or the fire from its mane?
6. "His enemy halted again...and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings." So again, the SHADOW is the most observable thing about a balrog. (We do see fire come from within its nostrils... which is fitting with most all the rest of the description. Most of the 'fire' if the Balrog is WITHIN it... not surrounding the outside of it. The "dark fire"... the "flame of udun".... just as the fire of Gandalf is 'within him'. Yes, they can both choose to 'unleash it' at times... but that's not what the text indicates is the 'common state' of either of them.

So the Balrog is a much smaller, much darker figure than is most often depicted. "Twice the height of a man" and surrounded in shadow.

While Ent is here, with Balrog and Gandalf standing on the bridge, he'd like to take one moment and point out one of PJ's greatest mistakes. in the film.

PJ has Gandalf say "You Shall Not Pass."
Tolkien writes "You Cannot Pass."
The difference us HUGE, and very much a part of the theology of the whole work.

"Shall/shall not" are terms of PERMISSION. "Can/Cannot" are terms of Ability.

PJ has Gandalf, all by himself, refuse 'permission' to the Balrog to pass. Gandalf has no charge on his own to do so, in giving his aid to Middle-earth.

What Gandalf is really saying, is "Flame of Udun, you have no ABILITY to pass beyond the Flame of Anor'. It is the Dark Fire vs. the Secret Fire, or Fire of Light.
The Darkness simply, in the end, has no ability to overcome light.

PJ's fostering of an unfortunate theological gaffe is another way he shows he hasn't a clue what Tolkien's work is about.

We can say the 'darkness', always SEEMING so much bigger and more powerful compared to the light, is another 'illusion' we often think of without realizing it. The darkness seems SO POWERFUL. SO OVErWHELMING. Yet in the end, it has no ability to meet its ultimate objectives.

The size of the Balrog, the dragons, of Sauron - all are purposely 'enlarged' in the work as an outworking of this very illusionary concept, while standing against them are the frail and tiny Gandalf, the lowly hobbits, and the unfortunate if self-absorbed victim, Gollum. (and more.)

 

[d4rk3lf]

Does it have wings as well?!

I think that artist (cleverly) just gave a hint of the wings, because it's sort of controversial theme about Balrog.
So I guess he gave a viewer to decide if that's a wings, or it could be " swirling portal to darkness"... it's smartly not defined..

And if it's the wings, he respected the book that says that wings were spread from wall to wall... if I remember correctly

 

[Ent]

wings were spread from wall to wall

The 'shadow' spread 'like wings' is the exact language.
There were, in this text, no real 'wings' spoken of.
Some want to move the "likeness' (the adjectivial phrase 'like wings') into the position of the 'subject', ('the shadow'.)
But the text just doesn't allow that.

... "and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings." Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Lord Of The Rings (p. 330). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

 

[Radaghast]

Well, here's my woeful attempt of old (don't say I didn't warn you 😆).

I think I was 19 at the time (I won't say the year but it was well before the movies). It was my first attempt (of only a few) at using gouache. Anyway, so much wrong with this and I made it worse by trying to delineate with ink🤢

But as pertains to the Balrog in particular, for one thing it's too small. I don't think the Balrog should be twenty feet but it should still tower over Gandalf. For another I don't know what I was thinking with sword and whip. Yikes 😬