Tom Loback

• Name — Tom Loback • Born — 16 February 1949 • Birthplace — Brooklyn, New York • Died — 5 March 2015 • Known for — Illustrations of The Silmarillion

Tom Loback was born on February 16, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York. As well as his Middle-earth work and his driftwood sculptures, he also created figurines of characters from the American Civil War and from fantasy works. Loback died of the after-effects of the September 11 attacks.

Loback contributed to the appreciation of J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium in two ways: through his art, and with scholarly study. The Tolkien scholar Bradford Lee Eden commented that Loback's work was "unique" in featuring both Tolkien's scripts (Cirth and Tengwar) and Elvish languages (both Quenya and Sindarin) in his art, and in his imitation of the style of medieval illuminated manuscripts. His artistic vision of The Silmarillion has been celebrated alongside that of other Tolkien illustrators: in 1990, Mythlore set Loback and three others the task of illustrating the confrontation between the maker of the Silmarils, Fëanor, and his half-brother Fingolfin. The linguist and computer scientist Carl F. Hostetter wrote that Loback's contribution to Tolkien linguistics was in its nomenclature. Loback wrote on Middle-earth subjects for magazines including Beyond Bree and Little Gwaihir, and the linguistic journals Vinyar Tengwar and Parma Eldalamberon.

c:Category:Drawings by Tom Loback A selection of Loback's The Silmarillion artworks, which he uploaded to Commons, is shown here. • Illustration — The Wedding of Tuor and Idril • Illustration — Tuor slays Othrod • Illustration — Thingol Fights Boldog • Illustration — Fëanor and Fingolfin • Illustration — Ulmo saves Voronwe • Illustration — The Fall of Turgon's Tower • Illustration — Ecthelion slays Orcobal • Illustration — Eöl and Aredhel • Illustration — Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs