Romantic 19th Century

The subject matter became more sentimental towards the end of the 19^th century with watercolour becoming the preferred medium instead of oil paint.

Two famous Irish Romantic paintings:

• Daniel Maclise, The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife, 1854 (oil on canvas)

This is a very large painting (309 x 505cm) depicting the Irish legend of the marriage of Aoife, the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough (King of Leinster) and Strongbow (Richard de Clare), the Norman warrior.
 

• Frederick Burton, The Meeting on the Turret Stairs, 1864 (watercolour on paper)

This is a very detailed painting depicting a romantic tale from medieval folklore.  It shows the moment that Helil says goodbye to her lover Hilderbrand as he goes into battle. This watercolour was voted Ireland's favourite painting in 2012.