Romantic scene captures heart of Irish nation

A watercolour depicting the last embrace between two ill-fated lovers has been declared the nation’s favourite painting.

The Meeting on the Turret Stairs was painted by Clare artist Frederic William Burton in 1864. It hangs in the National Gallery of Ireland and can only be viewed for three hours each week due to its “medium and sensitivity to light”.

The embrace it captures is between princess Hellelil and young soldier Hildebrand. The princess’s father does not approve of the match and has ordered his sons to kill the soldier.