File:Donato Giancola - J.R.R.Tolkien Portrait.jpg

This portrait represents an idealized version of J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien is depicted as he would have looked during the 1950s or 60s, around the time he was writing The Lord of the Rings. According to the artist's description, he is seen inside a Hobbit-hole, its round window with a view to a forested nature outside, identifiable as the Party Field with the Party Tree; he is sitting on a chair bearing the Livery of Elendil; he is smoking a pipe whose smoke transforms into an Eagle, while he is working on some manuscripts and drawings; part of the Doors of Durin can be seen, while the drawing he is holding is identifiable as Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Raft-elves. Some papers are empty, which according to the artist, represent the unfinished Silmarillion.

On his library, early covers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are visible. On the coffee table there are two cups of tea (or coffee) bearing the emblems of Beren and Luthien suggesting that they belong to himself and his wife, Edith Tolkien. On the far left there is a book on Beowulf.