Theory Gallery

Starlight bent by the Sun's Attraction: The Einstein Theory

This diagram drawn by W. B. Robinson illustrates Professor Einstein's Theory that light is subject to gravitation. The drawing was based on British observers' photographs at the eclipse of the sun on the 28-29th May 1919. Photographs of stars were taken during the total eclipse, which were then compared to other plates of the same region taken when the sun was not in the neighbourhood. Comparing the two plates, the stars on the eclipse plates seemed to be pushed outwards, thus starlight was found to be bent by the sun's attraction. Dr A. C. Crommelin, a British observer working on the project, wrote that 'straight lines in Einstein's space cannot exist; they are parts of gigantic curves.'

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

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

Cartoon, The disciple of Kant, WW1

Cartoon, The disciple of Kant. Showing a German follower of Kantian philosophy, with illustrations of Kant's theory of Cause, Effect, and Sufficient Reason. The implication is that a man who studies too much may be driven to drink a lot of beer and is likely to vomit it up by the end of the evening. Date: 1916

© Mary Evans Picture Library