The Castle of Beja, Alentejo, Portugal

The Castle of Beja is found in the second city of the Portuguese region of the Alentejo. It features the Torre de Menagem, which is a Roman castle, rebuilt in the Middle Ages. We usually stay in Evora, the primary city of the Alentejo, but one year tried Beja for variety’s sake. The Alentejo is very pretty and has the best food in Portugal.

Oil on canvas

36”w x 24” h

$950.

The Aude River at Carcassonne, France

Aude River, Carcassone

The Aude River at Carcassonne sits below the castle town in southwestern France. In the 1200s, the Pope and the king of France massacred millions of Frenchmen in this area in the Albigensian Crusade. Though the history is terrible, Carcassonne is beautiful and like a fairyland version of the Middle Ages.
This is one of two small paintings of Carcassonne. I was trying to capture the otherworldly, medieval look of the town in late February.

Oil on canvas
16” x 20”

$750.

Carcassonne II, France

Carcassonne is a castle town on a hill in southwestern France. In the 1200s, the Pope and the king of France agreed to conquer this part of France. The locals were Langue d’Oc speaking Cathars. The Pope declared Cathars to be heretics and the French and Papal forces killed millions of Frenchmen. France got vast new territories and the Pope got to kill off millions who wouldn’t accept his authority. The fortified city of Carcassonne still survives from that period.
This is one of two small paintings of Carcassonne. I was trying to capture the otherworldly, medieval look if the town in late February.

Oil on canvas
16” x 20”

$700.

Olive Grove 1, Beja Portugal

This is one of a pair of paintings of the olive grove on the grounds of the castle in Beja, Portugal. In this painting, the trees are painted as masses of light and shadow, and some leaves are added afterward to create the impression of leafiness. The other is painted differently.

Oil on canvas

20”w x 16”h

$700.

Mdina, Gozo, Malta

Susan and I spent a month in Malta many years ago. We were visiting the smaller island of Gozo, on the way to the old capital, Mdina. While we were in the sun at the bottom of the hill, it was showering in the city. When we got to the city gates, we were drenched. Every inch of Malta is terraced and farmed and not a spot is wasted.

My aim was to capture the drama of the medieval city on a hill with the terraced gardens flanking the slope. The dramatic cloud was a bonus.

oil on canvas

36″w x 24″h

$950.