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
Picture No
12002041
Media ID
46664693
Size
2883px x 4095px
(4.5MB)
Credit
Mary Evans Picture Library
Source
Unnamed artist in Hopkins, The Man in the Iron Mask'
Date
late 17th century
