The Gathering of the Clouds by Alan Lee (1997)

Created by British artist Alan Lee in 1997 for HarperCollins's 60th-anniversary illustrated edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit', this watercolor painting is commonly titled 'The Gathering of the Clouds' (or 'The Front Gate'). It depicts Chapter 15 of the book, in which Thorin Oakenshield and his company of dwarves fortify the Front Gate of the Lonely Mountain (Erebor) after Smaug's demise and look out over the River Running as messengers from Bard the Bowman and the Elvenking arrive to parley. Rendered in Lee's signature atmospheric watercolor style with muted, earthy tones and delicate architectural textures, the scene captures the growing tension and grim resolve that precede the Battle of Five Armies.

Professionally restored and reproduced from the original artwork, this print preserves the powerful visual impact of Alan Lee's painting while offering exceptional detail and color fidelity for modern display. • Premium 200 g/m² matte paper • Exceptional detail and color reproduction • Professionally enhanced and restored image quality • Available in 12x18", 16x24", and 24x36" sizes • Unframed for custom display options • Printed in the USA