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Italian painter (–)

Chevalier Fortunino Matania (16 April – 8 February ) was an Italian artist noted for his realistic portrayal of World War I trench warfare and of a wide range of historical subjects.

Life

Born in Naples, the son of artist Eduardo Matania, Fortunino Matania studied at his father's studio, designing a soap advertisement at the age of 9 and exhibiting his first work at Naples Academy at By the age of 14 he was helping his father produce illustrations for books and magazines.

His talent was recognised by the editor of the Italian periodical L'Illustrazione Italiania and Matania produced weekly illustrations for the magazine between and

At the age of 20, Matania began working in Paris for Illustration Francaise and, in , was invited to London to cover the Coronation of Edward VII for The Graphic.

Matania subsequently covered every major event – marriage, christening, funeral and Coronation – of British royalty up to the coronatio