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.