BLACKPOOL

Fortunino Matania was born in Naples on 16 April 1881, son of Edward Matania, artist. He first studied under his father, until at the age of 14 he went to Milan as Special Artist to the 'Illustrazione Italiania'. Six years later he began working for the 'Illustration Francaise' in Paris and 'The Graphic' in London. Matania then returned to Italy for war service in the Bersaglieri, and from 1914 he became a war artist producing several hundred war pictures while at the front.When he was 24 he travelled again to London, where he lived for many years, and joined the staff at 'The Sphere'. Elected to the R.I. in 1916 he had exhibited at the R.A., R.I., and in Italy. Matania's work chiefly consists of paintings in watercolour and of oil portraits and historical subjects. In this poster we see Matania depart from his usual sombre subject matter as he portrays the carefree holiday makers of Blackpool, a scene from a bygone era.