EXTRACTS: Drawing from History: The Forgotten Art of Fortunino Matania © The Book Palace (340 PAGES in Full edition)

The Forgotten Art of Fortunino Matania 243 Signor Fortunino Matania, the now famous artist from THE SPHERE newspaper, was born in Naples in April 1881. His childhood was spent in his father’s studio, and his art education came solely from breathing the atmosphere on that environment. He never attended any art school, but as a mere boy began to do black and white drawings for newspapers. At the age of 14 he had already exhibited some pictures in the Academy of Naples, winning a Council Prize. Before the age of 15 he was appointed special artist to the “Illustrazione Italiana”. His youth was a great drawback when he was to attend this or that state function, for now and again he was refused admission when presenting the press card of his paper, being told that the card in question was made out to his father. On more than one occasion he had to do a sketch on the spot to prove to some official that he really was an artist. He first came to London at the age of 20, and worked for our illustrated newspapers, and in Paris for “L’Illustraton”. He then returned to Italy in order to finish his military service with the Bersaglieri Regiment, when he had a studio in the barracks. At the time of the Russo- Japanese War, his work in “L’Illustration” attracted the attention of THE SPHERE, with which journal Mr Matania has now been associated for 10 years. He has more than once exhibited at the Royal Academy. His last years picture was purchased by Mr John S Sargent, RA. During the course of the war, Mr Matania has been out to the Western front as a special artist for THE SPHERE, and as evidence of the nearness of his viewpoint to the actual fighting line, it may be mentioned that while he has been sketching in the trenches, shells have burst in close proximity. On one occasion, the leaves of his sketchbook were actually covered with dirt and debris blown upwards by a high explosive shell. Mr Matania had to rise and shake himself free from the grit and litter which had covered him from head to foot before ho could proceed with his work. This knowledge of the actual conditions of the fighting zone combined with an exceptional artistic memory, gives a special value to all Mr Matania’s war work. Clement K Shorter (Editor and Director THE SPHERE) London September 30th 1916