The Yellow Field by David Holt (2009)

An original painting of the Kentish countryside and a field of Oilseed Rape

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

Painted in 2004, this is an original oil on canvas, unframed, and measuring 79 × 59cm.

Signed, titled and dated by David Holt to the reverse (possibly overpainted from an earlier painting as there is a scored through second title).

A bright, large painting. Rather than a traditional fluid landscape, the vibrant, textured field of oilseed rape is distilled into an almost hard-edged, glowing yellow square. It sits like an electric field or window contained within rich emerald green. Five fence posts anchor the foreground and establish perspective gridlines extending forward. Centered near the bottom edge is a dark, emerald-green head/bust-like silhouette looking inward toward the luminous yellow field. This introduces his recurring "observer" motif, pulling the viewer into a shared meditative gaze.

Provenance: This painting comes directly from the artist's estate, and the work is offered with full provenance.

David Holt (1928–2014). Born in Hythe, Kent. Painter and Lecturer in Art. After National Service, he trained at the Canterbury School of Art, the Hammersmith School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools where he was awarded a medal for drawing and the Knapping Prize. He joined a studio-workshop with Gerald Holtom (designer of the CND symbol) in 1958 where he designed and produced proscenium curtains for schools. In 1958 he was awarded a Harkness Fellowship and travelled across America, producing many drawings and prints of the Pueblo Indians and their life-dance in Santa Fe in New Mexico, where he also worked with artist Agnes Sims. He returned to England in 1960 and continued to paint and work on large textile appliques for schools, churches, and private houses including Spade House in Kent, the former home of H G Wells.

He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1962, and in 1964 was commissioned to design and make a large textile applique 'Christ in Majesty' which still hangs in the chapel of Christ Church College in Canterbury.

He was Head of Art at Canterbury Christ Church University until his retirement in 1995. He exhibited widely in the UK and the States and worked with many art societies and summer schools across East Kent.

His work can be found in both private and public collections throughout the UK and America, including the Yale Centre for British Art. His painting "Coastal Watcher" was recently used for the dustwrapper on Modernism and Memory: Rhoda Pritzker and the Art of Collecting (Yale University Press, 2016).

Condition

The painting is in good condition, with one small pin prick (just along the edge of the darker segment), and a small chip to the surface paint lower left but the overall impression remains impressive. Slight marking from studio storage to to the frame and rear.

Due to size and weight, postage is restricted to the UK, though I am happy to investigate shipping rates abroad. Please email for details.

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