Fortunino Matania

[Guest mruk]

Hello All,

Can anyone tell me please if there is a compilation of Matania's illustrations and work available? For me, he is one of the more evocative and moving of war artists.

Many Thanks in Advance,

Dave

[Guest mruk]

Many Thanks 'Eddie',

This is a fascinating site, and the one which prompted my question. I was hoping for a hard copy. I've tried the usual routes, but come up with very little. I think I must be spelling his name wrong. I'll have a look in one of the big bookshops this week.

Kind Regards,

Dave

[John S Sargent]

Dave,

Unless someone has produced it recently in the UK or on the Continent, I don't believe any compilation has been produced -- and I've looked.

"greatwardifferent.com" has more of his work displayed than anywhere else, though many of the .jpegs of his illustrations are small and at 72ppi don't lend themselves to being scaled up to larger size.

Recently I found volume 1 of a multi-volume reprint set (Millenium Editions) of the collected 'Illustrated News' covering The Great War. It's a large-format book which could easily act as a doorstop, and the first has twenty-plus of Matania's gouache-and-ink illustrations from the beginning of the war. I scanned and adjusted them in Photoshop at a better resolution for my own collection.

I found this book being remaindered for only a few dollars, but there are more volumes in the series. The original price for these reprints was high -- 50 Pounds or more per volume.

However, the 'Illustrated News' employed Matania almost exclusively during the entire war and if a set of these reprints could be had cheaply, you'd probably have a near-complete collection of his work... and given that most of these illustrations are either lost or scattered, the best we're liable to get.

Cheers,

Tom

[Audax]

Some Background on the Artist.

Chevalier Fortuninio MATANIA. R.I. (1917) portraint painter; specialist in historical paintings. Born Naples, 1881. Son of Professor Cav. (Chevalier) Eduardo Matania and Celia Della Valle, Naples. Married 1905 Elvira Di Gennara (Died 1952.) one Son and one Daughter; Married 1960, Ellen Jane Goldsack. Educated Naples; in his Father's Studio. Showed since then a strong inclination to follow his father's steps. made the illustration of the first historical book at the age of fourteen; went to Milan as a special artist for the Illustrazione Italiana; at twenty in Paris with with the Illustration Francais and London with the Graphic. at 22 years in Itlay for Military Service in the Bersagieri; at 24 years in London working for 'The Sphere' Guest of His Majesty at the Durbar (Coronation Medal) in 1914 became a War Artist and went to the Front several times to draw from life. Nearly every year he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Inst. mostly pictures of Roman Life.

Publications: pictures published in Newspapers, every week in The Graphic, 1901-04 and in the Sphere from 1904. Principal magazines in Europe and America, regulary in 'Britannia' and 'Eve' from 1929. He became a writer of historical stories in 1931.

His hobbies were: fencing, painting, reconstructions of historical furniture and dresses, music, modelling.

He died 8th February 1963. Last Address: Studio, 121 Hendon Way, N.W 2 TEL:(Maida Vale 6314)

I wonder what happened to his Coronation Medal?

[Guest mruk]

Many Thanks Gentlemen,

It seems that Matania lived quite a full and varied life, and it's a pity that the legacy of his work has not been gathered in a more affordable collection. £50 is a bit steep, and I'm going to have to save up and look out for the 'Millenium Edition' of his work with the 'Illustrated News'. You may be interested to know that that a stock-take at the Leeds Museum and Art Gallery has just revealed that some eight paintings have 'disappeared' in the course of the past few years. One was a painting by Turner, estimated to be worth around £1 M, and it is also thought that a sculpture by Henry Moore has also gone 'walkabout' from the cellar where they were kept for safe keeping. I'm sure there's a couple of private collectors somewhere looking on with glee and pride.

Kind Regards,

Dave

Tom, My Dad said my Grandfather had a number of tattoes, one of which/whom was 'Lady Astor'. I've never thought about it before, but I wonder if he was inspired by John Singer Sargent's portrait? She was certainly an elegant and striking-looking women. There again, he also had 'Buffalo Bill' etched on his other arm, so maybe not.

Cheers,

Dave

[John S Sargent]

Dear Dave,

A correction on the volumes -- They're published by Trident International, not Millenium, and consist of six volumes -- reprints of the original 13-volume set of London Illustrated News' coverage of the War.

I've priced them online from various sources, and they can be had for anywhere from $20 - $50 US, depending upon which of the six volumes you're trying to find. So it might not be so expensive an investment. As an artist, I'll take examples of Matania's work wherever I can find them.

As to Lady Astor, I don't know if that's a connection to JSS's work, but why not? He didn't paint Buffalo Bill (but should have done).

Best,

Tom

[Guest mruk]

Thanks Tom,

Sorry about the delay in response, but I keep forgetting what I've posted. Thanks for making clear the correction.

Cheers,

Dave