BDC Antiquarian Booksellers

17/07/2024

11/07/2024

Created in 1864, Frederic William Burton's painting "The Meeting on the Turret Stairs" is a poignant and romantic work that captures a fleeting moment of passion and tragedy. The painting, also known as "Hellelil and Hildebrand," draws inspiration from a medieval Danish ballad translated by Burton's friend, Whitley Stokes. The story tells of Hellelil, a noblewoman who falls in love with her personal guard, Hildebrand, Prince of Engelland. Their forbidden love faces dire consequences as Hellelil's father orders her seven brothers to kill Hildebrand.

The painting depicts the lovers meeting on a winding turret staircase, sharing a brief, intense embrace before their impending separation. Hildebrand tenderly seizes Hellelil's arm and kisses it, symbolizing their deep, yet doomed, affection. Burton’s use of watercolour and gouache gives the piece a luminous quality, enhancing the emotional intensity of the scene.

Burton's work reflects the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites, evident in the painting's rich colors, intricate details, and romanticism. The symbolism in the painting, such as the white roses at Hellelil’s feet, represents themes of true love and eternal loyalty.

The painting is housed in the National Gallery of Ireland, where it was voted Ireland’s favorite painting in 2012. Its evocative depiction of love, loss, and medieval chivalry continues to captivate viewers.

11/07/2024

The children of Spitalfields London E1. c1900s. Their young lives were spent scavenging for rotten fruit in the bins behind the market in the East End. Dressing in rags that may have been shared between ten or more siblings and lucky to have a pair of boots in the coldest of weather. This was washday. These two children, with their toes poking out of their boots, are tending to a fire to heat buckets of water to scrub clothes. They would then place the clean garments on washing lines which would be hung across the street…

10/07/2024

Love this painting 💕