From Book Riot:
The estate for J.R.R. Tolkien has released a new website that includes paintings and illustrations from Tolkien not previously available to the public. They can be browsed for free, including paintings, maps, and calligraphy. The website also includes letters, video clips, photographs, and more.
The estate explains that maps were an “integral part of Tolkien’s world-building” and that he drew them as he wrote his novels. The maps included range from broad maps of the world to ones with a more narrow focus, like the Shire.
Link to the rest at Book Riot
They sure look like the ones I’ve seen in the two collections of his art I’ve got. As well as that exhibition catalog/biography/thing that came out from Bodlean Library a few years back. They aren’t that hard to get. The article’s author didn’t do much work, I guess.
“Rarely-seen”? I have that painting of Smaug in at least one and probably several volumes on my shelves. I suspect this is aimed at people who hear “Lord of the Rings” and think of the movies.
I have it on the cover of my copy of The Hobbit.