Solving Collection

Alexander & Gordian Knot
ALEXANDER THE GREAT When in Gordium, Phrygia in 333 BC, Alexander cuts the Gordian knot with his sword, bluntly solving the puzzle

Oedipus and the Sphinx, 1808 (oil on canvas)
XIR267669 Oedipus and the Sphinx, 1808 (oil on canvas) by Ingres, Jean Auguste Dominique (1780-1867); 189x144 cm; Louvre, Paris, France; (add.info.: Oedipe et le Sphinx; mythe; enigme; ); French

The passion for crossword riddles (colour litho)
2777623 The passion for crossword riddles (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The passion for crossword riddles)

King John re-crowned by Cardinal Pandulf Verraccio
King John (1199-1216) is re-crowned by Cardinal Pandulf Verraccio sent from Pope Innocent III in Rome to solve the crisis with the Church by formally surrendering England to the representative of

Oedipus and the Sphinx (w / c on paper)
TFM144422 Oedipus and the Sphinx (w/c on paper) by Pollak, Max (1886-1950); Freud Museum, London, UK; © Freud Museum, London; Czech, out of copyright

Mental Calculation, 1895 (colour litho)
5234064 Mental Calculation, 1895 (colour litho) by Bogdanov-Belsky, Nikolai Petrovich (1868-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mental Calculation, 1895)

Ariadnes Thread, 1929 (screen print)
3036184 Ariadnes Thread, 1929 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); (add.info.: Vintage illustration of the myth of Ariadnes Thread from Greek Mythology; screen print)

Solving Londons traffic problems, roundabouts 1924
Diagram showing how to help traffic flow in Oxford Street, by a circular route, what we call today a roundabout. 1924

Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales -- The Wife of Baths Tale (left). Also including the Knight solving the riddle (centre) and the Knight on his travels (right). Date: 14th century

Tankard, the body chased with a scene representing Alexander
CH469897 Tankard, the body chased with a scene representing Alexander and the Legend of the Gordian Knot, Danzig, c.1680 (parcel gilt silver) by German School

Funerary urn depicting Oedipus and the Sphinx (alabaster)
ALG174670 Funerary urn depicting Oedipus and the Sphinx (alabaster) by Etruscan; Museo Guarnacci, Volterra, Italy; (add.info.: Urne cineraire represantant Oedipe et le sphinx; ); out of copyright

A Tangle, 1897 (oil on canvas)
1199805 A Tangle, 1897 (oil on canvas) by Muschamp, Francis Sydney (1851-1929); 50.9x76.2 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; English, out of copyright

Lloyd George charming the Serpent of Unemployment, 1921 (litho)
KDC397330 Lloyd George charming the Serpent of Unemployment, 1921 (litho) by Raven-Hill, Leonard (1867-1942); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Lesson, 1887 (oil on panel)
CH429816 The Lesson, 1887 (oil on panel) by Caille, Leon (1836-1907); 33x23.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

Zerah Colburn, Aged 8 years, Remarkable for solving Arithmetical questions (engraving)
1108359 Zerah Colburn, Aged 8 years, Remarkable for solving Arithmetical questions (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Zerah Colburn, Aged 8 years)

Demetrius Solves A Difficult Problem, c1917, (1917). Artist: Gunning King
Demetrius Solves A Difficult Problem, c1917, (1917). From Bibbys Annual 1917, [J. Bibby & Sons, Liverpool, 1917]

The first white line to be laid down in a London Street as an experiment in solving the traffic congestion, 1924. From The Pageant of the Century, published 1934

Rene Descartes and Isaac Beeckman. Historical engraving of the French mathematician & philosopher Rene Descartes (1596- 1650, centre)

authentic, authenticity, background people, candid, challenge, cloud, color image
People standing near glass maze

Coping with effects of bomb blast by G. H. Davis
The effects of bomb blast: how research and experiment have helped to cope with this vital problem during the Second World War. Date: 1941

Manoeuvrability and pilot blackout by G. H. Davis
What fighting at nearly 400 mph means to the airman -- the difficulties of manoeuvrability and pilot blackout. How problems of high speed and wing loading have been solved

Oedipus and the Sphinx, 1808 (oil on canvas) (detail of 267669)
XIR2604236 Oedipus and the Sphinx, 1808 (oil on canvas) (detail of 267669) by Ingres, Jean Auguste Dominique (1780-1867); 189x144 cm; Louvre, Paris

Sugar crystal, ordinary table sugar dissolves in cherry juice, photomicrography

John Harrison (1693-1776) English clockmaker. On the table at his elbow is his No 4 chronometer with which he won the prize for solving the problem of finding longitude at sea. Engraving

Flamsteed House, Greenwich Park, near London, England, the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Built by Christopher Wren (1632-1723)

Collecting forensic evidence
MODEL RELEASED. Collecting forensic evidence. Forensic scientist at the scene of a crime taking a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sample from knife

Pharmaceutical laboratory C013 / 7234
Pharmaceutical laboratory. Scientist working in a pharmacy lab

Psychometric Testing
A Feature Profile Test, used by the National Institute of Industrial Psychology to measure intelligence. The person has to assemble disconnected parts. Date: 1930s

BRAIN TEST
A test for the quickness of the eye and brain. A number is shouted and the person must press the correct bulb as soon as possible. London Institute of Psychology. Date: 1930s

Brain twister cube, artwork
Computer artwork of a colored brain twister cube

Energy saving ideas, conceptual image. Energy-saving bulb inside the silhouette of a human head. This could represent humans thinking up ways to solve environmental issues such as global warming

Solving the Universes mysteries, artwork
Solving the Universes mysteries, conceptual artwork

Solving green issues, conceptual image

Bernoulli brothers, Swiss mathematicians
Bernoulli brothers, 17th century Swiss mathematicians. At right is Jean (Johann) Benoulli (1667-1748). At left is Jacques (Jacob) Bernoulli (1654-1705)

Brain complexity, conceptual artwork
Brain complexity. Conceptual computer artwork of a slice through a brain represented as a complex maze, with a question mark at its centre

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"Solving the Enigmatic Puzzles of History: From Alexander's Cunning to Oedipus' Riddles" Step into a world where mysteries unravel and puzzles are untangled, as we delve into the captivating realm of "solving. " Just like Alexander facing the intricate Gordian Knot, humanity has always been driven by an insatiable curiosity to decipher enigmas that challenge our intellect. In 1808, Oedipus confronted the Sphinx in a mesmerizing oil painting on canvas. The riddle-solving hero captivated audiences with his wit and wisdom, showcasing how knowledge can triumph over adversity. Similarly, King John found solace when re-crowned by Cardinal Pandulf Verraccio—a symbolic act representing the resolution of political turmoil through diplomacy. Through various mediums such as watercolor on paper or color lithography, artists have immortalized moments of mental calculation and intellectual prowess. In 1895's "Mental Calculation, " a vibrant lithograph captures the essence of mathematical problem-solving while Ariadne's Thread in 1929's screen print symbolizes finding one's way out of complex labyrinths. Even practical challenges find their solutions within these historical narratives. Londoners tackled traffic problems head-on with innovative roundabouts in 1924—proving that even urban planning can be approached like an intricate puzzle waiting to be solved. Literature too holds its fair share of conundrums; Chaucer's Canterbury Tales introduced us to The Wife of Bath’s Tale—an intriguing tale filled with moral dilemmas begging for resolution. Meanwhile, crossword riddles became a passion for many seeking mental stimulation and linguistic acumen—a testament to our eternal quest for solving wordplay mysteries. Artifacts also bear witness to this timeless pursuit. A tankard chased with scenes depicting Alexander reminds us how even conquerors sought intellectual challenges beyond battles. An alabaster funerary urn portrays Oedipus and the Sphinx, immortalizing their eternal struggle for answers.