HIM5261774: Myrna Loy (1905-1993), American actress, 20th century. Signed photograph. Loy began her career playing bit parts in movies, among them the silent version of ""Ben-Hur"" (1926). She got her big break when she was cast in ""The Thin Man"" (1934), based on American writer Dashiell Hammett's novel. Her husband-and-wife sleuthing team with William Powell proved hugely popular and led to several sequels, and to her pairing with Powell in other films. In a 1936 poll she was voted 'queen of the movies'. Loy devoted the war years to working for the Red Cross, and made a return to the screen, in more matronly guise, in ""The Best Years of Our Lives"" (1946). Her subsequent film appearances were relatively infrequent, as she devoted much of her time to working for the United Nations agency UNESCO. She was presented with an honorary career achievement Academy Award in 1991. / Bridgeman Images
LNB5906271: Henry Purcell collage. Portrait against score backdrop ' I attempt from Love's Sickness' - first page of score. Words by Sir Robert Howard (1626-1698). With angels playing instruments. Song begins 'I attempt from Love's sickness to fly in vain'. From 'The Indian Queen'. Purcell: English composer, c.1659 - 21 November 1695. / Bridgeman Images
FLO4672360: Matthew Prior (1664-1721), poet and ambassador during Queen Anne's regne (1702-1714), wearing a pink velvet jacket, lace collar, stockings and buckle shoes. From a portrait of the British Museum, London, England. Lithograph by Charles Martin, engraving by Leopold Martin, published in “” Costumes civils d'Angleterre depuis la conquete à nos jours”, 1842, London. / Bridgeman Images
EVB7067457: A hospitalized wounded soldier gestures as he speaks to his bedside visitors. The US Civil war era watercolor painting by James Fuller Queen was reproduced on a sheet music cover, 'A Message from the Battlefield', composed by Mark Hassle. The artist included a bottle of 'Buchu', an African 'miracle herb', popularly known as 'buchu tea' in the 1860s and 1870s (graphite and watercolor), Queen, James Fuller (1824-c.1877) / Bridgeman Images