Flex Mentallo

He was invited to accompany King George V and Queen Mary to India when they were installed as King-Emperor and Queen-Empress at the Delhi Durbar of 1911. Matania's resourcefulness on such occasions was also in a league unto itself. Such was the multitude of troops and onlookers at the event that there was little space allocated to the press. The majority of them were obliged to observe the proceedings through binoculars as the distant dignitaries shimmered and eddied into the searing heat. Matania, who had mapped out his preparatory work at the dress rehearsal, nevertheless wanted to get as close to the action as possible and managed to secure a position at the foot of the steps leading up to the Royal thrones. To ensure he remained as unobtrusive as possible, he had secured himself an Army uniform, remained rigidly at attention as he committed the whole scene in all its pomp and splendour to his photographic memory. Peter Richardson

Here is another in an occasional sequence depicting 'book discoveries', though given that Matania illustrated works by Edgar Rice Boroughs, I'd be very surprised if his work has not previously been 'discovered' by many of my fellow boardies long before!

Drawing from History: The Forgotten Art of Fortunino Matania. Fortunino Matania 1881-1963

My message for the New Year [for what's its worth]. There are no Captain Americas here to rely on. Man or woman, each of us must behave as heroes should. Follow your conscience, make a difference, however you can. And if you want, share it here.

Thanks Mike! I meant to post these in July, but stuff happened! Have a great New Year!

Now Life's uncertainty has carried me away from them once again. I wonder when my 'adopted' family and I will meet again?

At night the beaches come alive.

South of Puri is the bustling port city of Visakhapatnam , also known as Vizak. It is a place Indian tourists congregate in their tens of thousands, but foreigners rarely go.