Frederic William Burton’s Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs is our most loved painting and has inspired Erin Quinn, an Irish/Canadian olfactory and visual artist, to create an evocative gender neutral Eau de Parfum for the National Gallery this December.
Irish born Burton had a scent aversion to oil paints which is why he chose to paint this vibrant work in water colour.
Due to its delicate nature, the painting can only be viewed twice weekly at the National Gallery, which only adds to the mystique surrounding this captivating piece.
To encapsulate the spirit of this romantic painting in scent form, Quinn has created a conceptual scent Páis, meaning passion in Irish, and draws from essences popular in Medieval perfumery like Cloves, Myrrh, Cinnamon and Rose along with notes of leather and a hint of metal…a nod to Hildebrand’s battle attire.
The finished scent is an intermingling of the lovers longing embrace….inhaling each other deeply before they are forced to part. Páis limited edition eau de parfum by Erin Quinn EQ Factories is available exclusively in the National Gallery shop from December 6.
