What is the purpose of art? Thousands of books and essays have pondered over this question, not always providing straightforward answers. As a non-artist, I can only briefly and naively suggest that we need art the way we need literature. Literature gives us words, strung with emotions that are not only the writer’s but also ours. In so doing, it shows that we are not so different after all. Art is the same; it does what literature does when words are inadequate or cannot to do the job.
I will use just one example to make my point about the necessity of art. The National Gallery of Ireland owns a painting with the title ‘Hellilil and Hidebrand: Meeting on the Turret Stairs‘. It is a work by the Irish painter, Frederick William Burton (1816-1900). Voted as Ireland’s most heartbreaking painting, this 1864 watercolor painting is so delicate, it’s only shown on two days a week.
The subject matter of the painting is just as delicate. Burton’s watercolor is based on a 12th century Danish ballad of a noblewoman named Hellelil who fell for her bodyguard, Hildebrand. Her father forbids their relationship and sends her seven brothers to kill him. Hildebrand defeated six of her brothers but died by the seventh. The picture depicts the love-struck couple in their final moments meeting by the turret stairs. Without eye contact or words, they console each other. Facing away, she lets Hildebrand hold her right arm. He drapes her arms around his neck, unable to look at her.
Hellelil and Hidebrand was voted by the Irish public as Ireland’s favorite painting in 2012 from among 10 works shortlisted by critics. I think most of us can see why: after two hundred years, we can still feel the heartbreaking emotions captured on canvas. That is why we need art.
Brief Biography of Frederic William Burton
Frederic William Burton was born in Ireland in 1816. He began his artistic training at the Dublin Society Schools at the age of 10, and became an accomplished water-colourist and miniature painter, exhibiting his first picture at the Royal Hibernian Academy at the age of 16.
In the 1840s and ‘50s Burton travelled extensively in Bavaria, sketching and painting folk life and architecture and reputedly worked for Maximilian II of Bavaria, copying and restoring his art collection in Munich. On these travels he became familiar with continental art history and museums.
Burton moved to London in 1858. Initially, he continued working as a painter, taking on portrait commissions and continuing with subject painting. The paintings of the Pre-Raphaelites had influenced Burton’s own work and in London he developed friendships with members of the group including Edward Burne-Jones and John Everett Millais. In 1874, Burton was appointed Director of the National Gallery and ceased to paint entirely.