Guardian Cryptic 26864 with Picture Quiz

(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow.  To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.)  A challenge, in some places, from Crucible, even after twigging the theme. Thanks to Crucible. Definitions are underlined in the clues.

The answer to 5 down was born this day, 21 April, in 1816. Answers marked with an asterisk are linked to her (there may be more I’ve missed).

Across

1 Fine musical returns, featuring unknown old minx (6)

FIZGIG :  F(abbrev. for “fine”) + reversal of(… returns) GIGI(the stage and film musical based on a Collette novella) containing(featuring) Z(symbol for an unknown quantity in mathematics).

Defn: An old term for a flirtatious young woman.

5 Conservative MP gets in again after changing crusade (8)

CAMPAIGN : C(abbrev. for a Conservative party member) + [ MP contained in(gets in) anagram of(… after changing) AGAIN].

9 Small range, one in city state (8)

SLOVENIA : S(abbrev. for “small”) + [ OVEN(a range in your kitchen) + I(Roman numeral for “one”) ] contained in(in) LA(abbrev. for the city of Los Angeles) .

10 Style attained height in churches, primarily (6)

GOTHIC : * GOT(attained) + H(abbrev. for “height”) + the 1st letters, respectively, of(…, primarily) “in churches “.

Defn: … of literary fiction, say.

11 Clerical office Harry Lauder ran on English lines (5,7)

RURAL DEANERY : Anagram of(Harry) LAUDER RAN plus(on) E(abbrev. for “English”) + RY(abbrev. for “railway”;train lines)

13 Nice setter entertains a new girl (4)

JANE : * JE(self-referential pronoun for the setter, in the language of Nice, France) containing(entertains) [A + N(abbrev. for “new”) ].

14 Class sorts out test cases (8)

TUTORIAL : * Anagram of(sorts) OUT contained in(… cases, or encases) TRIAL(a test).

17 Ray follows reserve scorer on rink (3,5)

ICE SKATE : SKATE(the ray fish) placed after(follows) ICE(reserve;standoffishness).

Defn: Thing that marks;scores the skating rink ice.

18 Short division? Sign on staff (4)

CLEF : “cleft”(a division;a rift) minus its last letter of(Short …).

Defn: … in musical notation.

20 In which kinky pair agree on hosting male? (4,8)

OPEN MARRIAGE : Anagram of(kinky) PAIR AGREE ON containing(hosting) M(abbrev. for “male”).

23 Sage, I’m sorry to say, comes back around six (6)

SALVIA : Reversal of(…, comes back) ALAS(an expression of sorrow;”woe is me!”) containing(around) VI(Roman numeral for six).

Defn: …, the plant.

24 Getting warm neckwear and dark clothing? (8)

NIGHTIES : NIGH(close to something being sought;getting warm) + TIES(neckwear).

Defn: …, or clothing normally worn at night or in the dark

25 Old person from Riga features odious 21 (8)

VILLETTE : * LETT(an old term for a person from Riga, Latvia) contained in(in) VILE(odious).

Defn: Novel;answer to 21 down written by 5 down.

26 Dominate high-scoring draw without central pairing (6)

THRALL : “three all”(a high score, perhaps, for a drawn sporting match, say, of football, compared to a goalless draw) minus its central 2 letters(without central pairing).

Down

2 Python stands up during panel discussion (4)

IDLE : Reversal of(stands up) and hidden in(during) “panel discussion “.

Answer: Eric, one of the (Monty) Pythons.

3 Leave Jules’s special teacher at home (9)

GOVERNESS : * GO(to leave) + VERNE(Jules, the writer)‘S + S(abbrev. for “special”).

4 Dope and crack for those in estates? (6)

GENTRY : GEN(dope;information) plus(and) TRY(a crack at;an attempt at, say, solving).

5 Writer‘s sweet Breton confection (9,6)

CHARLOTTE BRONTE : * CHARLOTTE(a sweet;a dessert) + anagram of(… confection) BRETON.

6 Brief affair involving English over old saloon (8)

MAGNETTE : “matter”(an affair;the subject of concern) minus its last letter(Brief …) containing(involving) reversal of(… over, in a down clue) ENG(abbrev. for “English”).

Defn: … car made by MG.

7 Tax cut oddly reduced working in London area (5)

ACTON : * “Tax cut” minus its 1st, 3rd and 5th letters(oddly reduced) + ON(working, said of a electrical appliance, say).

8 Someone staring over edge, touching the end (4,6)

GRIM REAPER : * GAPER(someone staring) containing(over) [ RIM(the edge) + RE(with reference to;touching on) ].

12 A cargo ship transported old boxes (10)

SARCOPHAGI : Anagram of(… transported) A CARGO SHIP.

15 Radical old queen hides bust somewhere in Kent (9)

ROCHESTER : * R(abbrev. for “radical” in chemistry) + O(abbrev. for “old”) + ER(abbrev. for Elizabeth Regina, the Queen) containing(hides) CHEST(the bust).

16 Viewer’s complaint about diplomacy engaging Arab (8)

CATARACT : CA(abbrev. for “circa”;about, in reference to specified years) + TACT(diplomacy) containing(engaging) AR(abbrev. for “Arab”).

19 Did school put rubbish outside that’s foul? (6)

TAUGHT : * TAT(rubbish;nonsence) containing(put … outside) UGH!(expression indicating something is foul).

21 Book half a month online (5)

NOVEL : * The 1st 4 letters of(half) “November”(a month) placed above(on, in a down clue) L(abbrev. for “line”).

22 Call law graduate up about drug (4)

BELL : * Reversal of(… up) LL.B(post-nominals for a law graduate) containing(about) E(abbrev. for “ecstasy”, the drug).

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The following pictures have unidentified links to the puzzle.

    

(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.)