Family claims artist Tommy Watson set up with fake

FAMILY members of artist Tommy Watson claim people may have gained access to their home in order to obtain photographs.

The photograph of Tommy Watson provided with the certificate of authenticity with an allegedly forged work.

FAMILY members and a carer for renowned Aboriginal artist Tommy Watson claim people may have gained access to their home in order to obtain photographs of the old man with an ­allegedly forged painting that was later sold at auction.

The painting, entitled Umutju, was sold by Arthouse Auctions for $12,500 in October. Arthouse has been accused of handling allegedly forged or “very likely mis­attributed” works by at least 10 high-profile Aboriginal artists including Watson, as The Australian has revealed.

The company, which reaped at least $2.3 million from 28 sales last year, has sold at least 36 allegedly suspect works for a total of almost $100,000 and been forced to withdraw at least three, online records show.

Managing director and national head of art Giovanna Fragomeli has defended her company’s business practices and declared absolute confidence in Arthouse’s “100 per cent guarantee of ­authenticity based on the ­catalogue descriptions”.

Umutju was bought by a ­Victorian farmer who wishes to remain anonymous. The Aus­tralian has taken steps to verify his story. The buyer cancelled the sale after Sydney-based art advisory Piermarq and Melbourne-based art consultant Ken McGregor disputed the painting’s authenticity.

During the aborted purchase process, the buyer obtained a photo purporting to show Mr Watson with the work, and a “Certificate of Authenticity” signed by Ms Fragomeli. These were advertised as part of the sale; copies have been obtained by The Australian.

The photo is out of focus and blurry, but appears to show Mr Watson on a tiled floor with the painting beside him. There is no obvious painting paraphernalia nearby. Mr Watson, who is ­believed to be about 80 years old, is partially incapacitated and speaks no English.

The certificate of authenticity confirms the work as being “authentic to the description and by the named artist”; it shows a picture of the painting and gives an estimated gallery value of “$65,000 ++”, and date of production as 2014. It is signed by Ms Fragomeli on paper headed with the logo and name of Mimi Art Gallery, based in Alice Springs.

Mr Watson’s niece Jorna Newberry — who is related by kinship rather than blood — and long- term carer Fabian Conti both said Mr Watson had never painted at or for Mimi, and that they were unfamiliar with the gallery.

They said Mr Watson had painted only for his present dealer, Chris Simon of Yanda Aboriginal Art, since returning from ­Melbourne in 2013.

Mr Conti said when the family lived at another house in Alice Springs — their home until recently — people used to “turn up when we weren’t there”.

“The kids would let them in,” Mr Conti said.

Beth Newberry, one of Ms Newberry’s daughters, recounted an incident last year in which two unknown men, “(one with) blond hair and tattoos, and the other guy was taller with black hair”, ­supposedly entered the house and photographed Mr Watson with a painting.

The description of the location did not match the photograph ­obtained by The Australian, but other similar incidents cannot be ruled out. Another child who ­allegedly let the men in was not available for interview. It is ­impossible to verify the accuracy of these accounts.

Ms Fragomeli had not ­responded to detailed questions put last week by the time of pub­lication last night.