Georgiana Houghton, a Gift from Spirit, Catalogue of Works Held at the Victorian Spiritualists' Union

Book excerpt: Georgiana Houghton was Spiritualist artist living and working in England in the 1860-80's. The VSU has the largest known collection of her work in the world, and as part of their 150th Anniversary celebrations is publishing a book of their collection. This catalogue is of the 35 paintings held by the VSU. It consists of one essay on Houghton's paintings in Australia and a brief history of Spiritualism in Australia including that of the VSU, plus an essay on her way of working, and a biography of Houghton, by Jeff Stewart. An Introduction by Alan Bennett and Lorraine Lee Tet. An essay from the Grimwade centre on the paint and paper and techniques used by Georgiana Houghton, and the works condition and conservation .The book is large format and full colour. Most of the 35 paintings reproduced have text by the artist on the reverse side, which is also reproduced. They are a number of full colour photographs accompanying each essay and introduction.