Matania Collection (page 8)

Armistice celebrations in Trafalgar Square
Crowds dancing, waving flags and climbing on Landseers famous lions in Trafalgar Square as they celebrate the signing of the Armistice and the end of the First World War in November 1918. Date: 1918

Sphere cover - Surrender of German fleet by Matania
The surrender of the German High Seas Fleet - Admiral Meurer on board the " Queen Elizabeth" in the Firth of Forth, saluting Admiral Sir David Beatty in his cabin. Date: 1918

Entry of Belgian troops into Bruges, 1918 by Matania
Illustration showing the public reception enjoyed by Belgian troops marching into Bruges following the retreat of the Germans in October 1918

Deceiving the enemy
While the majority of their colleagues retreat to a line of trenches further back, some British soldiers remain in the front trench to convince the Germans that the trench is still fully occupied

Surprise at dawn on the Western Front
South-east of Ypres, a German trench-building party is surprised by British gunfire. The trench builders had been working under cover of the night mist

Sphere cover - artillery negotiating shell craters, Matania
British artillery in difficulty among shell craters in August 1918. Shell craters were created by explosions, could easily subside and filled with water in wet weather

Adverts for Matania WW1 prints in The Sphere
Two advertisements for popular images by The Sphere special artist, Fortunino Matania, offering them as signed artists proofs (21 shillings each) or 5 shilling prints

Sphere cover - British gunners turning German gun on enemy
A British artillery team with a captured German gun (a 77), using all their strength to turn it upon the fleeing enemy. 1918

Sphere cover - British plane caught by German gun fire
A British aeroplane, caught making a daring raid over enemy lines and flying very low to drop bombs on German entrenched troops, is fired on by a machine gun as well as several rifles

Ladies working in a Russian soldiers home under Bolsheviks
Those who suffer under the revolutionary regime - Russian ladies earning their living as cleaners I a home for soldiers. Scene showing upper class women employed in scrubbing

Gathering of Allies in an Italian home, WW1
French, British and Italian soldiers gathered together in an Italian home. The Allies had been fighting together to hold up the long-threatened Austrian offensive which was launched against Italy

Sphere cover - French refugees from lost villages, Matania
A refugee French mother and her children are given a lift by some British soldiers on a road in Northern France as they escape the approaching German guns

Serbian armoured car is ambushed
In southern Serbia, near Strumnitza, Two Serbian armoured vehicles are ambushed by Bulgarians. One vehicle escapes but the other runs off the road and is stranded in a ditch

Gunners working through German gas attack by Matania
A storm of poison gas shells breaking over a British battery of 18 pounders, showing the gunners working to serve their guns while wearing gas masks. Date: 1918

General Ferdinand Foch by Matania, WW1
Front cover of The Sphere featuring General Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929), Marshal of France by Fortunino Matania. Date: 1918

Retreat of Serbian Army
A group of Serbian soldiers bivouac in the mountainous district of Western Serbia during the armys retreat. Gathered round a camp fire

Hauling Italian Artillery in Trentino
In the province of Trentino, on the border between Austria-Hungary and Italy, a heavy Italian mortar is hauled into position up a mountain slope

Sphere cover - evacuation of civilians in France, WW1
A Knight-Errant on wheels - an incident in the evacuation of civilians in France. A British motor cyclists helps an old French lady

Serbian Outpost guards
At a Serbian outpost on a single track railway bridge on the Nish-Salonika Railway, guards stand to arms in the early hours of the morning having heard suspicious sounds

Sphere cover - First Armistice between Russians & Germans
The First Armistice by Fortunino Matania, showing Russian emissaries presenting their credentials to German officers. The first step towards peace negotiations was taken by the Russian

Bengal Lancers return from Port Arthur after the capture of Neuve Chapelle following a prolonged battle. Date: March 1915

British and Italian sentries in Italy by Matania, WW1
The Dual Guard - Camerati in Armi. A town in Northern Italy where both British and Italian troops were quartered and the guarding of which was shared by both

Sphere cover - Intercession Day by Matania, WW1
The scene inside St. Pauls Cathedral on Intercession Day, 6 January 1918 with the Bishop of London preaching from the pulpit and the building filled, predominantly with men in khaki. Date: 1918

Sphere cover - British & French meet at Combles, WW1
Front cover of The Sphere showing a scene on the morning of 26 September 1916, when British patrols entered the town of Combles and through the smoke-blackened dawn met with French soldiers

Sphere cover - destruction of zeppelin, Potters Bar, Matania
Front cover of The Sphere with an illustration of the German Zeppelin destroyed over Potters Bar, Hertfordshire on 1 October 1916

British artillery advances through Flanders mud
British gunners and horses drag their gun through the swamp of Flanders mud on their way to take up a forward position Date: November 1917

Motor bus on the Western Front
An ex-London motor bus, transporting British troops to the front line, comes under shell fire on an exposed road. Date: September 1917

British Gunners under fire
A British artillery battery, on its way to take up a position further forward, is stopped in its tracks by an enemy shell which lands in the road immediately ahead. Date: July 1917

General Brusilov by Matania
A portrait of Russian General Alexei Alekseevich Brusilov by Fortunino Matania. Brusilov had been appointed Commander in Chief of the Russian army in May 1917

The Kilt in Italy by WW1
A Highland officer wearing his kilt attracts much attention as he walks down the main street of a little town in Italy during the First World War

Clearing away wreckage at Cuffley by Matania, WW1
A scene at Cuffley, Hertfordshire showing the wreckage of the L-21 German zeppelin airship brought down by Lieut. William Leefe Robinson on the night of 2 September 1916

Lectures at the Front, WW1
A lecture on scouting by a British officer in a small theatre behind the firing line on the Western Front. The audience, comprising British officers

Sphere cover - Germans leave French village, 1918
Ruckwarts (meaning backward-going) - the Long March of Grey Uniforms towards the Rhine. A scene drawn by The Sphere special artist Fortunino Matania

Sphere cover - German retreat from Lille, 1918
Front cover of The Sphere featuring an illustration by Fortunino Matania showing a scene in Lille when the British finally recaptured the town from the retreating Germans in October 1918

Sphere cover - Allied soldiers in Macedonia by Matania
Front cover illustration by Fortunino Matania showing a group of Allied soldiers in Macedonai surveying a monument bearing an inscription in Bulgarian placed by General Mackensen beside a road built

Sphere cover - General Franchet by Fortunino Matania
Sphere front cover illustration by Fortunino Matania of Louis Felix Marie Francois Franchet d Esperey (1856-1942), French Army General during the First World War when he was Commander-in-Chief of

Sphere cover - Italy receiving shield of gold by Matania
Front cover illustration by Sphere special artist Fortunino Matania showing Italy in allegorical human form (with an impressive chest plate protecting her bosoms)

Evivva Italia
Long Live Italy! Fortunino Matanias illustration celebrating Italys entrance into World War One in May 1915. As British, French and German symbolic figures fight in the background

Moving sand bags forward
With the order for an advance having been given, British soldiers scramble out of their trench to move forward to occupy a captured German trench

British ammunition carriers
During an offensive, two British soldiers haul a box of ammunition forward to a newly captured trench. In such situations

New Years Day with a Highland Regiment
On the Western front, a Highland Regiment celebrate the New Year in traditional Scottish style, with sword dancing, bagpipe playing and singing. Date: 1 January 1917

Sphere cover - The Kaiser at Nish by Matania, WW1
Kaiser Wilhelm II pictured on a visit to Nish (Nis), the largest city in Southern Serbia, where he attended a banquet given by King Ferdinand of Bulgaria and inspected Bulgarian troops

Russian General Aleksei Brusilov
Front cover of The Sphere featuring a portrait of General Alexei Brussilov in command of the Russian Armys left wing in 1916. Date: 1916

French trench artillery in action by Matania, WW1
French gunners firing mortars and trench guns across " No Mans Land" to the German positions. The French used special artillery for use in the trenches

Entrance hall of the Union Jack Club by Matania, WW1
Soldiers and sailors back from the front, arrive in the entrance of hall of the Union Jack Club near Waterloo Station. The club was funded through public subscription

RFC after reconnaissance work on Western Front, WW1
The pilot and observer of a Royal Flying Corps aeroplane are helped back to their rest quarters after returning from a reconnaissance mission over the Western Front

Christmas leave 1916, scene at Victoria station by Matania
Soldiers exiting Victoria train station, arriving in London on leave for Christmas during the First World War. The central figure

Sphere cover - His Xmas letter from the trenches, Matania
Front cover of The Sphere featuring an illustration by Fortunino Matania of a British soldier writing a letter home to his family at Christmas

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"Matania: Capturing the Essence of History and Humanity" Step into the world of Matania, where art becomes a powerful storyteller. From "Last Absolution of the Munsters" to "Good-bye, Old Man, " Fortunio Matania's masterpieces transport us through time. In "L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, " British guns dash through a French town, showcasing the relentless spirit of war. Meanwhile, in "Please, Mr Policeman, where is Father Christmas?" Matania captures the innocence and wonderment of children during festive times. Witness strength personified in "The Strongest. " Feel the artist's passion as he unveils his sanctuary in "My Studio. " And amidst chaos and change during World War I, find solace at an Advanced Dressing Station on the Western Front. "The Cross Bearers" takes us to a WWI battlefield where bravery shines through adversity. In contrast, we are reminded of sacrifice with poignant scenes like that at Westminster Abbey for "The Unknown Warrior. " But it is not just history that Matania immortalizes; he also pays tribute to Australian troops counter-attacking at Amiens during WWI. Their courage echoes throughout generations. Through vivid strokes and meticulous attention to detail, Matania breathes life into moments frozen in time. His artworks transcend mere images; they become portals connecting past and present. So step into this captivating journey with Matania as your guide. Discover stories untold within each stroke of his brush – tales etched forever on canvas for all to see and feel.