346 - Fortunino Matania,

Fortunino Matania, Italian 1881-1963- A historical courting scene; pencil on paper, signed 'Fo Matania' (lower right), bears brass plaque 'IN MEMORY OF DAVID R STEIN' (lower centre), bears later label 'From a Collection of Sketches and Drawings / from the Studio of: / FORTUNIO [sic] MATANIA / Painter & Illustrator / Born Naples 1881- Died 1963' attached to the reverse of the backing board, 24.2 x 28.6 cm. ARR. Provenance: Private Collection, UK. Note: Son of artist Edoardo Matania (1847-1929), Fortunino was a Neapolitan painter that trained with his father. He exhibited as a child at the Accademia di Napoli and soon started producing illustrations for books, newspapers, and journals. While he lived in Paris and worked for several magazines, he was invited to London to depict Edward VII's coronation for The Graphic, and later also attended other Royal solemn events, including Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. He worked for most of his life as a newspaper and magazine illustrator, working on the Titanic sinking and scenes of World War I in the 1910s. After the war, he settled in London and started working for society women magazines, such as Britannia and Eve, which would be his work for almost the rest of his life. He also produced posters and catalogue illustrations.