Nurses by Fortunino Matania
Fortunino Matania (1881 - 1968) was Italian by birth and worked as illustrator for newsmagazines worldwide. One of the most accomplished realistic illustrators and artists of his time, his wartime work was immensely popular and appeared in nearly every major newsmagazine, Allied and neutral alike. After and during the war, his work adorned many a history book as well.
During the war he worked for the Illustrated London News, the Sphere, the french magazine L'Illustration and was also employed by the British government and individual regiments. He visited the front several times which allowed him to view wartime conditions at first hand and talk with soldiers about their experiences. From sketches and memory he would then finish a painting, often in a few days time. Rich in detail and carefully composed, his stirring paintings often depicted heroic or romantic scenes. Quite often they were published as two page spreads in newsmagazines such as the two illustrations depicted below.
Along with such artists as George Scott, Francois Flameng, Lucien Jonas and R. Caton Woodville, Fortunino Matania is one of the war illustrators who have helped form our mental image of the Great War.
Here are two illustrations depicting nurses, taken from an edition of the French magazine L'Illustration. Matania's work was usually published in grey or sepia tone, even though magazines such as L'Illustration normally printed lavish color illustrations in each edition.
(see also war-time art by Fortunino Matania)
Apology : the above illustration is by J. Simont and not by F. Matania