A noir and exquisitely detailed rendering for an interior magazine story titled on verso French Murder. By the Italian-born British illustrator Fortunino Matania, who was known for his near photorealist depictions of the current events of the day, including the sinking of the Titanic and the trench warfare of World War I. Alongside his up-to-the-minute takes on the news of the day, Matania also worked as an in demand historical illustrator, creating finely detailed intricate narrative images, which employed period props and embellishments to create an air of period authenticity, and often a voluptuous woman, which only increased their popularity.

Matania was a frequent illustrator for Nash’s Magazine, The Pictorial Review , The Graphic, MacCleans and The Sphere. He also illustrated several books dealing with The Spanish American War and World War I and II. His style is mindful of Harrison Fisher or Orson Lowell yet stylistically distinct and in many ways surpasses the technical expertise and emotional resonance of his contemporaries.

Above: Work on illustration board prior to framing