Annatar and Celebrimbor
Sauron in his fair form as Annatar when he taught the Elves the craft of ring-making.
It wasn't until afterwards (when he forged the One Ring in secret, planning that it should rule all the others)
that his true identity and purpose were revealed.
Depicted here: 'Annatar' guides the hand of Celebrimbor, greatest of the Elven smiths.
In the top left and right corners, Elrond and Galadriel shun him. They couldn't see through his disguise, yet still they didn't trust him.
The rings that were made in secret are embedded in the frame: on the left, right and bottom and the three Elven rings made by Celebrimbor;
and above Sauron's head is the One Ring. At this time it was still just an idea.
From the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien
Created especially for the Tolkien art show 'Evil in the Shining Light'
on during September at the Bank Street arts gallery in Sheffield,
curated by artist John Cockshaw
Acrylics on paper, with added digital colouring, 11.5 x 8"
Frame element by Stephen Clulow on Flickr.
— with Soni Alcorn-Hender.
2015