Chloë HoltRCA FRSA

Casa De Las Salinas is a 16th Century Renaissance period house in the centre of Seville. The central courtyard is designed in a traditional layout which has been used since Roman times, creating a cool and tranquil space. In the 16th Century the owners noble family Jaén, appear among the most active merchants and financiers in Seville.
The red ochre walled courtyard is adorned with Moorish, Medieval and Renaissance objects and architectual elements. A pair of dark Triana green jars to transport precious oils and spices sit upon iron trivets.

The spaces whispers of the past and the jars have a monolithic presence evocative of a strong soul and spirit.

Oil, mixed media and gesso on board 120cm h x 60.5 cm w

Inspired by the work of an anonymous (female?) artist "Virgen de Reposo" is housed in the Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla, in which the abundant branches of an apple tree shelter the resting Virgin and Child as the madonna hands the child a freshly fallen apple. The painting refers to the idea of the garden of eden, but the Madonna presents as a second Eve. The painting is ethereal and sensitive and the delicately painted subject matter refers to the the Christian doctrine of falling from grace and the salvation of the human race. For me the work is more about the connection of humanity and the beauty and gift of nature, of which I seek to represent in my own interpretation with a fallen apple below the apple tree.

Oil and gesso on board 120cm h x 60.5cm w

In the grand tradition of bringing citrus specimens from distant lands, I returned home with a remarkable fruit from the royal palace of Real Alcázares de Seville: a perfect 'Citrus Limon Osbeck' lemon from their historic citrus collection.

Dating back to the sixteenth century, the gardens of the Real Alcázares boasted both sweet and bitter lemon trees, particularly in the Garden of Cidral. The 1669 Chronicles of Cosimo de' Medici, recounting his travels around Spain and Portugal, mention the Tuscan Prince's admiration for these gardens. He marveled at the lemon trees in full bloom in December, calling it a great wonder.

The citrus collections were revered throughout history. The lemons embody the spirit and history of the gardens of Paradise in Seville, and dreams of warmer climes.

Oil, mixed media and gesso on board in antique frame. Framed size 40cm w x 35cm h Unframed size 28cm w x 22cm h

Astaea captures the abundant energy of my garden as it transitions into winter. The thick impasto layers of oil paint, gesso, and encaustic wax create a rich, textured surface, evoking the tapestry-like quality of the perennial border—where seed heads and foliage form in preparation for the frost, offering sustenance for the birds. The asters, fennel, and heleniums emerge from this layered surface, with some flowers gilded to catch the light, bringing an ethereal glow to the piece.

The dense, tactile surface reflects the garden’s flourishing energy, woven and celebrating both growth and the quiet beauty of decay. Each layer adds to the depth and complexity, mirroring the cycles of nature and the evolving patterns within the garden. Through Astaea, I seek to convey the sense of an ever-changing, living canvas, where the garden’s purpose continues even as it prepares for the stillness of winter. The painting becomes a testament to the garden’s ability to inspire and sustain, even in the midst of transformation.

Oil, gesso, raw pigment and encaustic wax on board in antique frame w 57 x h 84.5 cm (Framed in antique frame w 82 x h 107 cm)

Full and fecund open peony flowers bask in the Sevillian courtyards sunshine. Their luscious and abundant as the light ever-changing dances over their fleeting blooms.

The work is inspired by the resplendent chiaroscuro and luminous qualities of the work of one of Seville’s lustrous Baroque artists ‘Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’, best known for his religious works but also capturing the soul and life of the place and people. in In particular after “Iconography of Porciúncula” - the miracle of celestial falling flowers from the heavens.

Oil and mixed media on Arches Oil Paper 130 w x 80 h cm unframed 145 w x 95 h cm framed