Police: Artworks found in Sydney drugs raid fakes

Norman Lindsay (1879-1969) is one of Australia’s most beloved artists. Lindsay produced a number of propaganda and recruiting posters and cartoons for the Australian Government during World War I, including The trumpet Calls (Sydney: W.A. Gullick Govt. Printer, c.1918); col. lithograph; 91 x 67.2 cm. National Library of Australia. This image is of Australian origin and is now in the public domain because its term of copyright has expired, according to the Australian Copyright Council (ACC), ACC Information Sheet G023v14 (Duration of copyright) (Feb. 2008).

SYDNEY (AFP) – Sixteen sketches found during a drugs raid on a Sydney house and initially thought to be by renowned Australian artist Norman Lindsay are fakes from early last century, police said on Wednesday.

The art, including one drawing of a character from Lindsay’s well-known children’s book, The Magic Pudding, was at first believed to be authentic.

But police said later Wednesday that “expert analysis has revealed that the sketches… are not genuine Norman Lindsay works.”

“They appear to be fakes dating from the 1920s or 1930s,” they said in a statement.

Lindsay is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest artists, producing a vast body of work in different media which can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. He died in 1969.

Police said inquiries into the authenticity of two paintings also found at the house, including one believed to be by well-known Australian artist Pro Hart, were ongoing.

Also seized in the home was a large quantity of jewelry and small amounts of what are thought to heroin and cannabis.

A 51-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were arrested at the scene.

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