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Burrs Mill, Bury - Italian internees, WWII - Matania
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Burrs Mill, Bury - Italian internees, WWII - Matania
Interior view of Burrs Mill, Bury, Lancashire, a former mill and bleaching factory, which was used to intern Italian prisoners during the Second World War. The building was dilapidated, with puddles and grease on the floors, and consequently most uncomfortable for inmates, many of whom were then sent onwards to the Isle of Man. The painting is by Italian artist Fortunino Matania, who had lived in the UK since 1904, was special artist of The Sphere magazine and had painted hundreds of pictures during the First World War from the Allied point of view. Matania was briefly interned, part of the British governments Collar the lot! policy during war, but later released. It is likely that the figure standing, centre left, is him.
1940
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Media ID 14229374
© The Estate of Fortunino Matania / Mary Evans Picture Library
Bury Dilapidated Fortunino Imprisoned Inmates Interned Internees Italians Jan16 Lancashire Matania Mill Prisoners Burrs Internee
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This evocative interior view of Burrs Mill in Bury, Lancashire, painted by Italian artist Fortunino Matania during World War II, offers a poignant glimpse into the living conditions endured by Italian internees held there. The former mill and bleaching factory, which had fallen into disrepair, was used by the British government as an internment camp under its "Collar the lot!" policy. With puddles and grease on the floors, the building was far from comfortable for the inmates, many of whom were later transferred to the Isle of Man. Matania, an Italian artist who had lived in the UK since 1904 and was a special artist for The Sphere magazine, had painted hundreds of pictures during the First World War from the Allied perspective. He was briefly interned himself during the Second World War but was later released. It is believed that the figure standing, centre left, in this painting is Matania himself, capturing the scene with a sense of melancholy and introspection. The painting, created in 1940, is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the often-uncomfortable reality of internment camps. The Estates of Fortunino Matania and Mary Evans Picture Library hold the copyright to this powerful work, which continues to resonate with viewers today.
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