Frederic William Burton's The Meeting on the Turret Stairs as an archival print — Hellelil and Hildebrand in their last embrace, the painting voted Ireland's favourite.
"A final meeting, and a love that cannot survive it." Painted in 1864, it catches two lovers parted by duty and fate in the moment before goodbye. In 2012 the Irish public voted it their favourite painting in the National Gallery of Ireland, where it still hangs today.
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Why This Piece Works Beautifully in the Home
Quiet emotional power: a final farewell rendered with extraordinary subtlety — romantic, tragic, and deeply human.
Exceptional presence on the wall: soft tonal transitions and fine detail print beautifully at both available sizes.
Creates a natural focal point: ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and stairwells.
A meaningful gift: suited to anniversaries, weddings, housewarmings, or anyone with a connection to Irish culture.
About the Artwork
The Meeting on the Turret Stairs (1864) by Frederic William Burton hangs in the National Gallery of Ireland. The scene depicts the lovers Hellelil and Hildebrand in a final, wordless embrace — an instant of tenderness set against the inevitability of fate.
Burton's watercolour technique is exceptionally refined, with a miniature-like precision that rewards close viewing. Influenced by Pre-Raphaelite ideals, the work achieves its intensity not through spectacle, but through restraint — subtle gesture, careful pattern, and a stillness that heightens the emotional tension.
The subject comes from a medieval Danish ballad translated by Burton's friend Whitley Stokes and published in Fraser's Magazine (1855). Rather than depict violence, Burton chose the moment before it — the farewell — making the painting feel intimate, human, and timeless.
Today the painting is regarded as one of Ireland's most beloved artworks, and The Meeting on the Turret Stairs print remains one of the most sought-after images of a 19th-century Irish Romantic painting.
Read the story behind the painting — the Danish ballad it comes from, the two hours a week the original is on view, and how it came to be voted Ireland's favourite.
Choose Your Edition
Archival Print (Unframed)
Printed on 250 gsm archival matte fine art paper
Pigment inks for rich colour fidelity and long-term stability
Acid-free, pH-neutral materials designed for long-term preservation
Ideal if you want to frame locally or rotate with seasonal interiors
Framed Print
FSC-certified solid wood frame options: White Gallery, Black Gallery, or Natural Wood
UV-protective, shatter-resistant archival glazing
Conservation-grade mounting and professional backing
Delivered fully assembled and ready to hang
Sizes Available
30 × 45 cm / 12 × 18″ — versatile, elegant, ideal for gallery walls and smaller rooms
60 × 90 cm / 24 × 36″ — statement scale for living rooms, stairwells, and hospitality interiors
Where It Looks Best
Romantic interiors, heritage homes, and classic modern spaces
Hotels, period properties, and design-led rentals seeking a timeless focal point
Shipping & Assurance
Free worldwide shipping
Made to order and carefully packed with protective, archival-grade materials
Fully insured delivery with international tracking
Ships in 2–5 business days
For Collectors & Gift Buyers
This is a piece people talk about — not because it's loud, but because it's felt. If you're building a home with meaning, collecting Irish masterworks, or choosing a gift with genuine emotional weight, The Meeting on the Turret Stairs is a confident choice.
Select your size and frame above to begin your collection.
Provenance
Sold by the artist to Edward Fox Withem (1864); J.W. Knight (1865); Agnew's (1866); J.W. Knowles, Manchester; Christie's (John Knowles sale, 7 May 1877, lot 67); J. Grant Morris; Christie's (J. Grant Morris sale, 23–25 April 1898, lot 7); Agnew's; Miss Margaret Stokes (1898); bequeathed to the National Gallery of Ireland in 1900.
Exhibition History (Selected)
Annual Exhibition, Society of Painters in Watercolours, Dublin, 1864
Dublin International Exhibition, Earlsfort Terrace, 1865
Loan Collection of Works by Sir Frederic Burton, National Gallery of Ireland, 1900
Whitechapel Exhibition of Irish Art, London, 1913
Irish Art in the 19th Century, Crawford Municipal School of Art, 1971
Aspects of Irish Art (US museum tour), 1974
Irish Watercolours 1675–1925, Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas, 1976
Irish Watercolours and Drawings, McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, 1993
