Dragon Art by The Brothers Hildebrandt

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt were identical twin brothers, born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan, who often worked together and signed their shared paintings as the Brothers Hildebrandt. Tim died in 2006 and Greg in 2024.

The brothers became famous in the mid-1970s for their paintings for the J.R.R. Tolkien calendars published by Ballantine Books. Their colorful, storybook view of Middle-earth, from hobbit holes to the dragon Smaug, reached millions of readers and inspired a younger generation of fantasy artists, including John Howe. In 1977 they painted a well-known poster for the original Star Wars. Two years later they published Urshurak (1979), an illustrated fantasy novel written with Jerry Nichols, based on a story they had hoped to make into a film.

Each brother also worked on his own. Their credits include movie posters such as Clash of the Titans, comic art for Marvel and DC, and art for Wizards of the Coast, including Magic: The Gathering cards. Greg in particular continued to paint fantasy and pin-up art for decades.

The Hildebrandts painted with bright, saturated color, strong dramatic light, and a clear storytelling sense influenced by classic American illustration and animation. Their dragons glow with reds and golds, and their scenes have the warm, larger-than-life feeling of a favorite childhood picture book.