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Piccadilly Circus by Fortunino Matania
- This dynamic watercolor and gouache painting captures the bustling Piccadilly Circus in London
- Painted by Italian artist Fortunino Matania, the painter captures the bustling city center
- In a twist, the artist has rendered a number of important historical figures into the painting
- Get complete item description here
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1881-1963 | Italian
Piccadilly Circus
Signed “Matania” (center, on bus)
Watercolor and gouache on paper
This exceptional watercolor and gouache composition by famed Italian artist Fortunino Matania exudes the energy and dynamism for which the artist is revered. Entitled Piccadilly Circus, Matania’s canvas captures the very essence of London in the early 20th century, when fashion, art and culture flourished with boundless energy. Matania depicts the historic thoroughfare in the. . .
1881-1963 | Italian
Piccadilly Circus
Signed “Matania” (center, on bus)
Watercolor and gouache on paper
This exceptional watercolor and gouache composition by famed Italian artist Fortunino Matania exudes the energy and dynamism for which the artist is revered. Entitled Piccadilly Circus, Matania’s canvas captures the very essence of London in the early 20th century, when fashion, art and culture flourished with boundless energy. Matania depicts the historic thoroughfare in the evening, as vehicles and pedestrians alike traverse the square.
With splashes of color and a keen eye for detail and fashion, Matania crafts a nostalgic narrative, documenting an evening in the busy Piccadilly Circus in downtown London. The streets are aglow with the golden light of lanterns and storefronts, contributing to the romance of the setting in the bustling city center. In a whimsical twist, the artist has rendered a number of iconic and important historical figures into the painting, including King George V, well-dressed and smoking a cigar near the center of the painting.
Born to a family of painters in Naples in 1881, Fortunino Matania is renowned today as a colorist and illustrator that produced countless iconic Also known for his paintings of World War I and trench warfare, his luminous palette and creative range garnered the young artist. At the age of 20, he began working in Paris for L’Illustration Française, and beginning in 1908 he regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy. He was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1917, and his illustrations and paintings were published widely including Illustrated London News, London Magazine, Nash’s, Printer’s Pie among others. His works are recognized for their narrative depth and documentarian quality and remain widely prized by collectors today.
Early 20th century
Paper: 13 3/8" high x 20 3/4" wide
Frame: 22 3/4" high x 29 3/4" wide x 1 5/8" deep
Literature:
P. & V. Berko, 19th Century European Virtuoso Painters, Knokke 2011, p. 509, illustration p. 228.
| Maker: | Matania, Fortunino |
| Period: | 1816-1918 |
| Origin: | Italy |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Illustration |
| Depth: | 1.63 in. (4.13 cm) |
| Width: | 29.74 in. (75.54 cm) |
| Height: | 22.75 in. (57.79 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 20.750 in. (52.71 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 13.375 in. (33.97 cm) |
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For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
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Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
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