Forger of Brett Whiteley Works Identified in Australian Court

The Sydney Morning Herald identifies the forger behind four Brett Whiteley fakes that were sold for A$4.5m through dealer Peter Gant:

It is alleged in one charge that Muhammad Aman Siddique obtained a $2.5 million financial advantage by deception for himself and others by producing a purported Whiteley painting – Lavender Bay – and then fraudulently selling it as a genuine work.

Mr Siddique, 62, an art conservator, is also charged with having committed the same offence for $1.1 million involving another purported Whiteley painting, Orange Lavender Bay.

A third charge alleges he attempted with another to obtain a financial advantage by deception of $950,000 by falsely representing as an authentic Whiteley the painting Through the Window Lavender Bay.

The fourth charge alleges he dishonestly obtained for Peter Gant a financial advantage by deception of $950,000 by producing Through the Window Lavender Bay as “collateral” to defer payment of a debt in the same amount.

Art expert charged with Brett Whiteley forgeries (Sydney Morning Herald)