Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Question - 136

Shown is a painting by a little known German artist and illustrator. This was one of his many paintings that got printed in a postcard. It was recently auctioned in Sotheby's for £84,000. Its significance is that the painting inspired someone to create something. What?

Answer: The painting is "Der Berggeist" by Josef Madlener. Tolkien bought this postcard while on a trip and was inspired to create the character of Gandalf for the story that he was telling his children which eventually became The Hobbit. Madhu, Mekie, Raghu, Manix and Rajesh got it. Well done.

6 comments:

Madhu said...

Gandalf by Tolkein in LOTR

Anonymous said...

kindergarten? sounds very germanic and reminds of what i was subject to in kindergarten. lambs being bred for slaughter. sounds better in tamil!

mekie said...

Gandalf?

Raghu said...

Tolkien to create Gandalf

Anonymous said...

Gandalf by Tolkein... I have to admit that my answer was "inspired" ;-) by the first Google hit for "Sotheby's for £84,000 post card" :-(

I also have to admit that I thought of Gandalf when I first saw the painting although I had absolutely no idea about Joesph Madlener or his creation "Der Berggeist"! Great question!!

Anonymous said...

Der Berggeist - inspiration behind Tolkien's Gandalf.