Aw, perfect icon! Yes, Tolkien's illustrations are beautiful too. I think he had a really sharp eye for design. The emblems he designed for the various royal houses are simply beautiful.

I do like Alan Lee's vision, although perhaps I've overdosed a little, and some of the choices of subject in the illustrated LotR are a bit odd. I think fan art tends to focus on character, perhaps unsurprisingly.

ETA: mraltariel is so good at this game. Wish he'd write more.