Fortunino Matania Gallery

Goodbye Old Man - Soldier and dying horse during WWI

Goodbye Old Man is a striking image of a soldier bidding farewell to his fatally injured horse. Goodbye Old Man was commissioned by the Blue Cross in 1916 to raise money to help horses on active service.
The artist is Fortunino Matania and it is one of his most famous war-time illustrations. Fortunino Matania (1881 - 1963) was born in Naples.
During and after the war, his work adorned many a history book. During the 1st World War Matania mainly worked for the British magazine The Sphere as their star illustrator, usually producing one full page illustration or more per weekly issue.
He was also employed by the British government and commissioned by individual British regiments. He visited the front several times which allowed him to view wartime conditions at first hand and talk with soldiers about their experiences. From sketches and memory he could then finish a painting, often within a few days

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10046868

Repulsing the famous Prussian guard at Ypres

'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 . Fortunino Matania, Ri (1881-1963). One of the most accomplished realistic illustrators and artists of his time, his wartime work was immensely popular and appeared in nearly every major news magazine, Allied, Neutral and Central Powers alike. Literally tens of millions of readers saw wartime events through the medium of Matania's weekly illustrations and, as such, he played an important role in defining people's mental image of what Great War battlefield scenes and soldiers looked like. Date: 1914

© David Cohen Fine Art/Mary Evans Picture Library

Germans surrendering, Western Front by Matania, WW1

Surrendered German being marshalled by British soldiers following the defeat of their counter-attack at Trones Wood. The incident depicted took place near an advanced trench in the British line. The trench had been badly battered and many casualties had been caused when the German made their final attack. The first wave got through the British barrage and were held up by two Lewis guns which had survived the bombardment and by rapid rifle fire, characteristic of British infantry. The second wave did not advance any further, having been broken down by the British barrage which included shrapnel from aeroplanes overhead. Date: 1916

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans