Matania Collection

Matania - Last Absolution of the Munsters
The Last General Absolution of the Munsters at Rue du Bois - painting by Fortunino Matania. This painting relates to an incident in France in May of 1915

Boadicea leading Iceni revolt by Fortunino Matania
Boadicea (variously spelt, eg Boudicca), Queen of the Iceni, wife of Prasutagus. Leader of a vigorous but doomed revolt against the Roman occupation of Britain pictured with her daughters in full

Good-bye, Old Man. By Fortunio Matania. 1922
Illustration by Fortunio Matania showing a soldier saying a last goodbye to his faithful horse

L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. How our gunners won the VC and silenced the fire of the German guns in face of overwhelming odds Retreat from Mons, 1st September 1914

Dance-Time at the Dorchester Hotel
This painting by Matania shows people dancing in the ballroom of the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane

Australian troops counter-attack at Amiens, WW1
Australian troops hold the line at Villers Bretonneux nine miles east of Amiens during a German attack during the Battle of Amiens in April 1918

The Strongest "
" The Strongest.". Fortunino Matania, Ri (1881-1963). One of the most accomplished realistic illustrators and artists of his time

Please, Mr Policeman, where is Father Christmas by Matania
In the centre of London, close to Piccadilly Circus, two children stop a policeman from directing traffic to ask him where Father Christmas is

A Fish Pontoon at Grimsby by Fortunio Matania
An illustration of what was described in the Sphere as one of the greatest fishing ports in the world. In 1790 the population was less than 1, 000 and in 1907 it was 65, 000

British Guns dash through French town
A British Artillery piece is rushed at a gallop through the market-place of a French town, the square surrounded by shell damaged buildings

Goodbye, Old Man by Fortunino Matania
Colour print of the famous picture by Fortunino Matania showing a gunner saying farewell to his dying horse. The original was painted for the Blue Cross Fund to raise money for the charity during

My Studio by Fortunino Matania
Self-portrait of the Italian artist, Fortunino Matania (1881-1963) pictured at work in his studio at 104 Priory Road, Hampstead, London. Date: c.1955

A Motor Bus during the London Season, 1914 by Matania
" Passengers out first, please" - the omnipresent motor-bus. Passengers alight from a London bus, ready to sample the delights of the city at the height of the 1914 Season. Date: 1914

At an Advanced Dressing Station on the Western Front, Matania
A horse-drawn Red Cross ambulance wagon arriving at an advanced dressing station behind the front lines on the Western Front

The Cross Bearers, WW1 battlefield by Matania
British soldiers on a devastated battlefield rescuing a figure of Jesus Christ and his cross from a ruined church. Date: 1918

The Unknown Warrior - scene at Westminster Abbey, 11th November 1920. Fortunino Matania, Ri (1881-1963). One of the most accomplished realistic illustrators and artists of his time

Sappho - House of Muses
Atthis, Telesippa, Megara, Anactoria and Euneica sitting at the feet of the poetess Sappho as she recites some of her work. No

Notables assembled in the Abbey annexe at 1937 Coronation
Ecclesiastics, distinguished officers of state and regalia bearers awaiting the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in the tapestried hall of the temporary annexe of Westminster Abbey

British gunners, Battle of the Somme, WW1
British gunners in action during the Battle of the Somme, First World War. Their guns are on " Percy Scott" mountings, with rather colourful camouflage paint. Date: 1918

The Last Shot by Matania
A group of British seamen gunners straining to fire a final shot at a German ship as their own ship sinks beneath them. The caption notes that this was a common occurrence with light cruisers

Ad for Goodbye, Old Man by Matania, WW1
Advertisement in The Sphere magazine promoting one of the most popular images painted by their special artist Fortunino Matania as a limited edition print

British trooper meets French woman on the road to Lille, WW1
A poignant scene captured by the Sphere magazines special artist, Fortunino Matania showing a British trooper riding through a devastated French landscape and stopping to speak to a French woman

Dropping from a Kite Balloon 1917
A British observer drops from the car of a kite balloon, attached to the parachute which is hanging over the side of the basket. His colleague has already jumped and is on his way to the ground

The sinking of the Titanic by Fortunio Matania
An illustration showing the Titanic sinking with all its lights on. Life boats full of survivers can be seen in the foreground. Date: 15th April 1912

Female munitions workers. By Fortunio Matania
As it became clear there would be no decisive swift victory for either side in World War I, the constant demand for munitions increased

In the Famous Plug Street Wood by Matania
A relief party marching back to the trenches through Ploegstreet Wood (known as Plug Street), south of Ypres. The scarred trees lining the soldiers route bear the scars of shelling

A Concert behind the Lines by Fortunino Matania
Somewhere in France - a concert behind the lines. A concert troupe or divisional entertainment company often made up of a mix of professional and amateur actors

The Strongest by Fortunino Matania
The Strongest, by Fortunino Matania, RI (1881-1963). One of the most accomplished realistic illustrators and artists of his time

Gordon Highlander interrogated by German Officers
I won t - After a raid on the British lines in Northern France, a Gordon Highlander is being interrogated by German Officers.. Fortunino Matania, Ri (1881-1963)

Francesco Matania
Chevalier Francesco Matania (1884-1957), operatic singer and professor of singing, pictured in The Tatler at the time of his return to London in 1920

Great Expectations: The Dickens Christmas Spirit by Matania
A Dickensian Christmas as imagined by the Italian-born artist, Fortunino Matania, who in his later career concentrated on historical genre subjects

The Unknown Warrior Burial Service
The scene in Westminster Abbey as the coffin of The Unknown Warrior is lowered onto bars above the open grave, during the burial service

Army tanks in battle with planes overhead, WW2
Army tanks in battle with planes overhead. Date: 1940

British soldiers bathing in flooded shell hole by Matania
The only advantage of the wet weather on the Western Front - a novel swimming bath used by British soldiers to bathe in. A scene captured at the front by The Sphere special artist, Fortunino Matania

Arrival of troop train by Fortunino Matania
Back for Christmas holidays: arrival of a troop train in London by Fortunino Matania. Scene in Victoria train station a few minutes after the arrival of a troop train bringing back British soldiers

The Fall of the German airship L-21 by Fortunino Matania, WW1
The destruction of the German Zeppelin L-21 over Cuffley, Hertfordshire after being shot down by Lieut. William Leefe Robinson on the night of 2nd/3rd September 1916

Repulsing the famous Prussian guard at Ypres. With the British Army on the Western Front - published in 1916 for Tatler and Sphere, though the illustration was first done in 1914

The Farewell. Fortunino Matania, RI (1881-1963). One of the most accomplished realistic illustrators and artists of his time

Edward VIII in his Coronation robes
A triptych of paintings by Fortunino Matania of King Edward VIII dressed in his ceremonial Coronation robes, part of a special Coronation number prepared in advance by the Illustrated London News but

Taking the wounded aboard a British ambulance train on the Western Front. With the British Army on the Western Front - published in 1916 for Tatler and Sphere.. Fortunino Matania, Ri (1881-1963)

With the field guns on the Western Front. A visit to a British battery. With the British Army on the Western Front - published in 1916 for Tatler and Sphere.. Fortunino Matania, Ri (1881-1963)

A Heroic Deed of the Royal Horse Artillery Near Compiegne, (1919). Creator: Unknown
A Heroic Deed of the Royal Horse Artillery Near Compiegne, (1919). Scene from the First World War: at the Battle of Nery in September 1914, the British 1st Cavalry Brigade and L Battery

Princess Caraboo by Fortunino Matania
Mary Baker (n饠 Willcocks) (1791-1864) a Devonshire cobblers daughter and noted impostor. Posing as the fictional Princess Caraboo

Storming of Le Quesnoy by New Zealand troops, 1918, Matania
The storming of Le Quesnoy by New Zealand troops on 4 November 1918. The soldiers, led by two second lieutenants, the men climbed up a ladder against the ramparts

Uhlans at Liege
A detachment of German Uhlans charging a fort at Liege, Belgium, only to encounter the barbed wire defences constructed by order of General Liman, commander of the Belgian troops in Liege

A British heavy howitzer in action on the Western Front against an opposing German position. The shot has just been fired and Matania's drawing (done from official material supplied)

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British infantry attack a German trench in France
British infantry, with bayonets fixed, charge and attack a German trench on the western Front in France. Date: September 1915

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"Matania: Capturing the Essence of History and Humanity" Step into the world of Matania, where art becomes a powerful storyteller. From "Last Absolution of the Munsters" to "Good-bye, Old Man, " Fortunio Matania's masterpieces transport us through time. In "L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, " British guns dash through a French town, showcasing the relentless spirit of war. Meanwhile, in "Please, Mr Policeman, where is Father Christmas?" Matania captures the innocence and wonderment of children during festive times. Witness strength personified in "The Strongest. " Feel the artist's passion as he unveils his sanctuary in "My Studio. " And amidst chaos and change during World War I, find solace at an Advanced Dressing Station on the Western Front. "The Cross Bearers" takes us to a WWI battlefield where bravery shines through adversity. In contrast, we are reminded of sacrifice with poignant scenes like that at Westminster Abbey for "The Unknown Warrior. " But it is not just history that Matania immortalizes; he also pays tribute to Australian troops counter-attacking at Amiens during WWI. Their courage echoes throughout generations. Through vivid strokes and meticulous attention to detail, Matania breathes life into moments frozen in time. His artworks transcend mere images; they become portals connecting past and present. So step into this captivating journey with Matania as your guide. Discover stories untold within each stroke of his brush – tales etched forever on canvas for all to see and feel.