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Precipitated Portrait on Satin of M. A. Oxon
H. S. Olcott noted: "The photo engraving process not
having as yet advanced to the point of photographing in
colours, our cut but very poorly represents the original
picture on satin."
Three Accounts of 'Precipitated' Portraits (from Old Diary Leaves)
Author: Mark Russell Bell
H. S. Olcott described how this portrait of M. A. Oxon (pen name of William Stainton Moses) was 'precipitated' (materialized) in the First Volume of Old Diary Leaves (1895). Olcott considered the medium a lifelong friend and highly-educated Spiritualist. Olcott wrote: " . . . the wonders of H. P. B. and Stainton Moseyn . . . were to me supremely important as psychical indications . . . His rooted idea was that his teachers . . . were all disincarnate human spirits . . . they taught him that a system of impartation of knowledge by teacher to pupil existed throughout the Cosmos, in ordinated stages of mental and spiritual development: like the classes in a school or college."
"Portrait of M. A. Oxon which the Satin
Picture Resembles" from Old Diary Leaves
Olcott and Helena Petrovna Blavatsky were in New York together working, as usual, on her manuscript for Isis Unveiled (1877) "at opposite sides of our writing-table, and dropped into a discussion of the principles involved in the conscious projection of the Double" — a theory they were developing on the basis of some of the instances of phenomena that had occurred in her presence.
Through lack of early familiarity with those subjects, she was not good then at explaining scientific matters, and I found it difficult to grasp her meaning. Her fiery temperament made her prone to abuse me for an idiot in such cases, and this time she did not spare her expressions of impatience at my alleged obtuseness. Finally, she did the very best thing by offering to show me in a picture how Oxon's evolution was proceeding, and at once made good her promise. Rising from the table, she went and opened a drawer from which she took a small roll of white satin—the remnant, I believe, of a piece she had had given her at Philadelphia—and laying it on the table before me, proceeded to cut off a piece of the size she wanted; after which she returned the roll to its place and sat down. She laid the piece of satin, face down, before her, almost covered it with a sheet of clean blotting-paper, and rested her elbows on it while she rolled for herself and lighted a fresh cigarette. Presently she asked me to fetch her a glass of water. I said I would, but first put her some question which involved an answer and some delay. Meanwhile I kept my eye upon an exposed edge of the satin, determined not to lose sight of it. Soon noticing that I made no sign of moving, she asked me if I did not mean to fetch her the water. I said: "Oh, certainly." "Then what do you wait for?" she asked. "I only wait to see what you are about to do with that satin," I replied. She gave me one angry glance, as though seeing that I did not mean to trust her alone with the satin, and then brought down her clenched fist upon the blotting-paper, saying: "I shall have it now—this minute!" Then, raising the paper and turning over the satin, she tossed it over to me. Imagine, if you can, my surprise! On the sheeny side I found a picture, in colours, of a most extraordinary character. There was an excellent portrait, of the head only, of Stainton Moses as he looked at that age . . .
Olcott also provided an account of another precipitated portrait — that of an Indian yogi.......continues
Copyright©Mark Russell Bell
Reproduced courtesy of Mark Russell Bell
Source
See also When Col. Olcott Met Madame Blavatsky
