The Who Gallery

Man in the Iron Mask, playing the cello in prison

There are conflicting theories as to who this man was. One is that he was Count Ercole Antonio Mattioli (Matthioli or Marchioly, 1640-1703), an Italian diplomat, arrested as Eustache Dauger in 1669, imprisoned by Louis XIV for 34 years, who died in the Bastille. Another theory, according to Voltaire, is that he was the older, illegitimate brother of Louis XIV -- this later formed part of Alexandre Dumas Three Musketeers saga, in which the man is Louis twin brother

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10007281

The report of the Spies, and remonstrance of Caleb - Bible

The report of the Spies, and remonstrance of Caleb. Numbers 13: 27- 30. They gave Moses this account: We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan. 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. Illustration by William Hole 1846 - 1917

© Lebrecht

The Folly Theatre, Peter Street, Manchester

Promotional postcard showing a playbill of the acts playing at the Folly Theatre of Varieties, (known as the Folly) Peter Street, Manchester for the week commencing Monday, 24th March 1889. This particular bill, starred Marie Loftus (1857-1940) who was one of the great female stars of the British music hall. Known as "The Sarah Bernhardt of the Music Halls", she rose to become a leading national star, touring abroad to the USA and South Africa. The Music Hall and Theatre Review of Saturday, 30th May 1891 stated that "Tom Costello is still here", suggesting he was a regular and popular performer at The Folly. Date: circa 1889

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library