In this paper, we present a new approach to treat the electronic structure of a molecule in solution. Unlike the hybrid-type method, such as the reference interaction site model self-consistent-field theory, the new approach describes not only the electronic structure of solute but also solute-solvent interactions in terms of the quantum chemistry based on the Hartree-Fock frozen density formulation. In the treatment, the quantum effect due to solvent, including exchange repulsion, is projected on to the solute Hamiltonian using the spectral representation method. The solvent distribution around the solute is handled by the integral equation theory of liquids. As illustrative applications of the approach, the electronic and solvation structure of noble atoms, neon and argon, in liquid neon are studied. We also investigate the electronic structure of an excess electron in liquid helium. The preliminary results demonstrate that the quantum-mechanical effect on the electronic and solvation structure of the solute due to solvent molecules is successfully represented by the new method. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.