Free delivery to the UK and US · Printed to order
Inspired by The Return of the King · J. R. R. Tolkien · More from The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings: The Witch-king at the Gate

The gate is broken, it is not yet dawn, and one old man waits on his horse.

£19.99
Size
Frame
  • Printed “Chapter & Scene” signature in the margin
  • Heavyweight 200gsm+ archival matte paper, 300 DPI
  • Slim pine frames with plexiglass, no mount
  • Made to order, free delivery to the UK and US

The Scene

From The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien, Book V, Chapter 4. The great ram smashes the Gate of Minas Tirith on its third stroke, and through the ruin rides the black captain of the enemy, a crown on his head and nothing beneath it. Only one figure stands in his way, alone and perfectly still. Then a cock crows somewhere in the city, and far off the horns of the north begin to sound. I love this held breath, the last second before hope arrives. An inspired-by print: nothing in it is taken from any film.

The Style

A Victorian Gothic wood engraving: hundreds of fine cut lines building up the dark, the light carved out of black, the rider surging out of the shadow of the arch. The only colour on the whole sheet is the flame on his raised sword.

The Inspiration

The look comes from Gustave Doré's wood engraving "Death on the Pale Horse" (1865). I borrowed his engraved line and the way his rider bursts out of darkness. His skeleton, scythe and demons aren't here.

How It's Made

I create each scene with AI image tools, then art-direct and refine it until it feels right. It's a print of a digital artwork made in the style of a wood engraving, not a hand-cut engraving or an original print. Each one carries my printed "Chapter & Scene" signature in the margin.

Sizes and Frames

A4 or A3, unframed or framed. Every print is made to order on heavyweight 200gsm+ archival matte paper at full print quality (300 DPI). Frames are slim pine, in black, white or natural oak, with shatter-resistant plexiglass and no mount, so the print's own cream margin is the border. Framed prints arrive ready to hang. Free delivery to the UK and US, tracked on most orders. Small unframed prints going to the US are sent untracked.

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