Georgiana Houghton : spirit drawings

Georgiana Houghton (1814-1884) was a spiritualist
medium who, in the 1860s and 1870s, produced a
remarkable series of largely abstract watercolours.
Detailed explanations on the back of the works
declare that her hand was guided by various spirits,
including several Renaissance artists and higher
angelic beings. In 1871 Houghton rented a gallery in
Old Bond Street and presented her 'spirit drawings'
to a startled London audience. One critic pronounced
it to be "the most astonishing exhibition in London at
the present moment".
The visual power of the works and their pioneering
use of abstract forms make them remarkable
products of Victorian culture and fascinating
precursors to later concerns of modern art.
However, they are almost completely unknown today.
This publication, which accompanies an exhibition
at The Courtauld Gallery, is the first devoted to
Houghton's spirit drawings and brings them to light
after 150 years in obscurity.

Product details

• Authors: Lars Bang Larsen, Collectif, Simon Grant, Marco Pasi
• Publisher: Paul Holberton Publishing
• Languages: English, French
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.06.2016
• EAN: 9781911300021
• ISBN: 978-1-911300-02-1
• No. of pages: 83
• Weight: 340 g
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Art > Art history