This framed original black and white gouache is by the famed Italian World War I artist Fortunino Matania (1881-1963). Matania was born in Naples and completed his national service for Italy before the outbreak of World War I. Prior to the outbreak of the war, he also worked for "The Sphere" in London, portraying many royal occasions with great detail. When the war started in 1914, he began work for the British Ministry of Propaganda, producing famous works used in war propaganda pieces and periodicals. This piece depicts the American "New York's Own" 27th Infantry Division assisted by British Mk I tanks, likely at the Battle of the Somme, where they assisted in breaking the Hindenburg Line. The 27th was one of two American divisions that were attached to the British Army to replace significant losses earlier in the war and had traded in their Springfield M1917 rifles for British No. I Mk III rifles before the Somme to simplify logistics. The medium appears to be Bristol board and black and white gouache, which Matania was famous for. The piece including the frame is approximately 43 inches wide and 30 inches tall, with the displayed area approximately 32 1/2 inches wide by 19 1/2 inches tall. The piece is signed "F.Matania" in the lower right, and it is likely that the mat is blocking the title of the work "The Glorious 27th/New York's Own Piercing the Hindenburg Line" at the bottom. The frame is finished in an attractive antiqued silver enamel.

The gouache itself is very fine with exceptional detail, some scattered minor brown stains, and some mild browning at the edges of the mat. The frame is also very fine retaining 75% of the antiqued silver enamel with some minor wear and some scattered minor handling/storage marks. An excellent piece for the U.S. military collector or First World War collector!