> Genuine Khan Auctions' Norval Morrisseau painting sold by Kinsman Robinson Galleries authenticated by Forensic Science (Part II)

Kevin Hearn Vs. Joseph B. McLeod and Maslak McLeod Gallery Inc.

/Court File No. CV-12-455650/
February 6th - 8th, 2018 @ 330 University Ave, Toronto ON M5G 1T3

"Warriors in Circle of Life," acrylic on canvas, 34" x 32",
© 1974 Norval Morrisseau /Click on image to Enlarge/ 

PROVENANCE: Acquired by Mr. David Voss of Thunder Bay, Ontario who supplied it to Mr. Randy Potter of Kahn Auctions, Pickering, Ontario. It was purchased on September 29th, 1999 by Mr. Donald Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries (KRG).
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Paul Robinson

~ This painting, was sold to Ms. Jane Brown (Battye) on March 11, 2000 by Mr. Paul Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto Ontario.

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I have received the following e-mail with Mr. Robert Battye of Oakville, Ontario on April 27th, 2015:

"Hello Ugo

Thank you for writing your blog. 

I've spent the last few nights intensely reading your and the hoax blog, trying to make sense of this entire Morrisseau fake scene. 

Something of interest to you, or maybe not. 

My wife bought  a acrylic on canvas from KRG in spring 2000.  The title is Warrior and the Wheel of life.  It has Norval's signature on the back,with the title.  Looks similar to the one in the Art World of Sherway case.  

I think it's  part of the paintings bought from Randy Potter, that the hoaxs refers to as the Wanker 31 and she still has the invoice from KRG, signed.  

I'm not sure how accurate everything is online, but it's upsetting to my wife that she bought a painting from KRG, and now it seems as if they are calling it (along with all paintings signed on the back) a fake.  

I'm not interested in causing a big stink publicly about this, but I'm curious to know your opinion.  

Thanks for your time, Rob"

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/An e-mail communication shown herein is presented in the public's interest/

NOTE: Subsequent e-mail dated April 28th, 2015 by Mr. Robert Battye included images of the front and back side of the painting titled "Warriors in Circle of Life;" mistakenly titled "Warrior and the Wheel of life" in his previous e-mail, shown above.

FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER'S FINDINGS:

> The signature painted with a dry brush (DB) technique on the verso of the above presented acrylic painting on canvas has been positively identified to have been authored by Canadian Anishinaabe/Woodland artist Norval Morrisseau.

Kenneth J. Davies

These discoveries were conducted and documented by Full Time Forensic Document Examiner Mr. Kenneth J. Davies of 'Hawkeye Studios (Grapho-Lab® Services)' (Calgary, Alberta). 

This report is dated September 25th, 2017.

>> This report has been generated for Ugo Matulić of Calgary, Alberta and it is the eight in a series of Forensic Reports done by Mr. Davies analyzing the Signatures on artworks done by Norval Morrisseau (see ADDENDUM presented below). 

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~ Dated September 25th, 2017

/Click on image to Download/


> Forensic Report analysis /File No. 3442-1/ by Full Time Forensic Document Examiner Mr. Kenneth J. Davies of 'Hawkeye Studios (Grapho-Lab® Services)' (Calgary, Alberta); Click on image above for the report and for the Statement of Qualifications for Mr. Davies.

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Examination of  Dry Brush Signature / Titling   

on reverse side of presented “  Norval Morrisseau”   paintings 

6th   Summary Report

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By request of Ugo Matulic of Calgary, Alberta, this analyst has undertaken an examination and comparative analysis of dry brush handwriting and signatures as appearing on reverse side of three paintings presented as by artist Norval Morrisseau and identified as  

“Spirit Energy of Mother Earth” – 1974

“Warriors in Circle of Life” – 1974

“Upper and Lower Worlds” – 1978

to make determinations as to authenticity of the three subject paintings based upon the dry brush signature, titling and symbols on the reverse of these subject paintings.

The undersigned examiner, as prescribed by the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, understands his duty to serve the truth, to assist the judicial process if so called upon, and to not advocate for any party in this or any such undertaking.  To that end, all statements in this report are true and objective determinations based upon forensic comparative analysis of the subject material. 

Methodology and Basis of the Examination:

Professional practices of document examination pertinent to questioned handwriting and signatures have been applied in this undertaking, whereby stroke characteristics broadly categorized as letter formation, slant, slope, rhythm, pressure, compression / expansion and sequence of strokes – collectively referred to as handwriting or signature writing habit – are studied, characterized and compared to determine authenticity or authorship.  Examinations for authenticity may utilize macroscopic, microscopic and high resolution digital scan analysis, as well as UV, IR, light table and other dedicated light source applications, all as may be appropriate to a specific analytic requirement.

The undersigned analyst has examined more than eighty Norval Morrisseau works, to date of this report, on canvas and other media, and is thereby intimately familiar with the character and stroke detail that was the authentic dry brush style and technique of signing the reverse side of Norval Morrisseau paintings.  This analyst has drawn on that extensive experience and on comparative analysis with known Norval Morrisseau works variously bearing ink, pencil, and, most importantly and prolifically, dry brush signatures, handwritten titling, and symbols. 

Paintings include, but are not limited to, non-disputed, Affidavit supported Sacred Medicine Bear Changes 1979, SoaringThunderbird 1979; as well as Shaman Envelopes Soma 1976 and Wheel of Life 1979, both authenticated at 100% by document examiner Dr. Atul K. Singla. 

Dr. Atul K. Singla's forensic handwriting analysis, authenticating Norval Morrisseau's signature on Wheel of Life 1979 was upheld in Hatfield v. Child in a judgment of March 25, 2013, issued by Toronto DeputyJudge Paul J. Martial. It led him to dismiss the case which had claimed Wheel of Life 1979 was a forgery and to declare it a genuine Morrisseau (Ontario Small Claims Court file SC-09-07264-00).

Deputy Judge Martial's judgment, regarding the authenticity of the signature and painting, Wheel of Life 1979, was upheld in an Appeal hearing on December 6, 2013 by the Hon. Madam Justice Mary AnnSanderson in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice/Divisional Court. She dismissed the Appeal, agreeing with Judge Martial that both the signature and the painting, Wheel of Life 1979, were genuine and authentically signed by Norval Morrisseau (Ontario Divisional Court file 2013 ONSC 7801, Dec.17, 2013).

The public Canlii reference number for this Divisional Court hearing can be found at: www.canlii.org/en/on/onscdc/doc/2013/2013onsc7801/2013onsc7801.html

The analyses that are the subjects of this report utilized high resolution images of the signature and handwriting / titling on the reverse of the subject paintings, Spirit Energy of Mother Earth; Warriors in Circle of Life; Upper and Lower Worlds. 

“Spirit Energy of Mother Earth” – 1974:

"Spirit Energy of Mother Earth",  © 1974 Norval Morrisseau
~ Click on image to view FRONT & the inscription on canvas VERSO

In examining and comparing the dry brush signature, titling and symbols presenting as that of Norval Morrisseau on Spirit Energy of Mother Earth,   1974, this analyst has determined that formation, rhythm, pressure, compression / expansion, slant, stroke sequence characteristics and relative placement of signature, titling, symbols (copyright; optional thunderbird) dating, and 'dash' marks – visible in its entirety to examination –  are consistent and without contradiction of known works of dry brush signed paintings of Norval Morrisseau of the period.   It is therefore the finding of this analyst within a reasonable degree of certainty that the dry brush work on Spirit Energy of Mother Earth is authentically and entirely that of Norval Morrisseau. 

“Warriors in Circle of Life”  – 1974   

"Warriors in Circle of Life," acrylic on canvas, 34" x 32",

© 1974 Norval Morrisseau /Click on image to Enlarge/ 

In examining and comparing the dry brush signature, titling and symbols presenting as that of Norval Morrisseau on Warriors in Circle of Life, 1974, this analyst has determined that formation, rhythm, pressure, compression / expansion, slant, stroke sequence characteristics and relative placement of signature, titling, copyright, dating, and 'dash' marks – visible in its entirety to examination – are consistent and without contradiction of known works of dry brush signed paintings of Norval Morrisseau of the period.    It is therefore the finding of this analyst within a reasonable degree of certainty that the dry brush work on Warriors in Circle of Life is authentically and entirely that of Norval Morrisseau.   

“Upper and Lower Worlds”  – 1978

"Upper and Lower Worlds," 34" x 80", © 1978 Norval Morrisseau

In examining and comparing the dry brush signature, titling and symbols presenting as that of Norval Morrisseau on Upper and Lower Worlds 1978, this analyst has determined that formation, rhythm, pressure, compression / expansion, slant, stroke sequence characteristics and relative placement of signature, titling, copyright, dating, and 'dash' marks – visible to a high degree to examination – are consistent and without contradiction of known works of dry brush signed paintings of Norval Morrisseau of the period.     It is therefore the finding of this analyst within a reasonable degree of certainty that the dry brush work on Upper and Lower Worlds is authentically and entirely that of Norval Morrisseau.

Summary of the Conclusion of the Examination: 

In summary of the resultant findings in the authentication of the three Norval Morrisseau paintings that are the subjects of this report – 

“Spirit Energy of Mother Earth” – 1974

“Warriors in Circle of Life” – 1974

“Upper and Lower Worlds” – 1978

and with due consideration given to some limitation imposed in examination of photographic / scanned images, it is the over all finding of this analyst, within a *reasonable degree of certainty, that the dry brush signatures, titling, and symbols on the reverse of each of the three subject paintings as captioned above are authentically and entirely by Norval Morrisseau. 

Evaluation Scale:

High Degree of Certainty : beyond any doubt - 90%+
* Reasonable Degree of Certainty : highly confident result- 80-90%

High Degree of Probability : has strong support - 70-80%
Reasonable Degree of Probability : support weighs in favour - 60-70%
Inconclusive : insufficient / deficient documentation

Note: A more definitive finding than the results and conclusion stated in this report may only be obtained from examination of the original dry brush 'signature' subject of this report.

Signed

Kenneth J. Davies, B.SC C.Ga CFC
Examiner, Questioned Documents / Handwriting & Signatures Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios

75 Bernard Drive NW Calgary AB Canada T3K2B5 ph. 403.295.3556 fax 403.398.1522 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

/Preceded KRG's $1,000,000 SLAPP suit against Ugo Matulic /
   CASE WON BY THE DEFENDANT

Donald Robinson

Over the period between late 1999 and early 2000 Mr. Donald Robinson successfully purchased 28 lots of paintings in the amount of $53,238.73 including GST from the Kahn Auctions, Pickering, Ontario.

The below presented receipt was the first one in series. He openly encouraged other people to buy them and unsuccessfully bid on another 40 to 60 more paintings from the same auction house.

~ Dated September 29th, 1999

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- Receipt made out to Mr. Donald Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries at Kahn Auctions showing "Warriors in Circle of Life" listed (Lot #98) /Click on image to enlarge/

> Mr. Donald Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries in his blog's post of August 28th, 2008 'Fighting smears: Auction canvases' (click HERE to view its screen capture before it was deleted by KRG Blog Master) extended his knowledge of Norval Morrisseau's art to that "of an expert" claiming "After investigation, we found that none of these paintings had heavy black, faded writing on the back. Even today. I have never seen a Morrisseau painting, with a provenance traceable back to the artist, with this kind of writing on the back".

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"Integrity is not a 90 percent thing, not a 95 percent thing; either you have it or you don't."
~ Peter Scotese

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ADDENDUM: 

Dr. Atul K. Singla    Brian Lindblom (ret.)    Kenneth J. Davies

/Canada's top Forensic Document Examiner and Handwriting Experts/

~ From 2002 to 2017 they have analyzed more than 150* various genuine Norval Morrisseau artworks, all alleged to be forgeries by Kinsman Robinson Galleries and their associates, and have found them, without exception, to be paintings signed by Norval Morrisseau.

Image: Courtesy of http://themorrisseauhoaxexposedblog.com/ 

>>> Below, listed in chronological order, are the Forensic Reports available for FREE DOWNLOAD (2002 to 2017). These reports feature the conclusive findings of three top internationally recognized Forensic Document Examiners and Handwriting Experts that questioned signatures on various artworks were authored by Norval Morrisseau:

1. Forensic Report; File No. 1349/02; January 24th, 2002
Re: Handwriting Identification of Norval Morrisseau
Prepared for Maslak McLeod Gallery (Joseph McLeod), Toronto, ON
Prepared by Brian Lindblom, B.A., F.S.S. Dip. - Forensic Document Examiner (Document Examination Consultants Inc.)
              
2. Forensic Report; File No. 1834/07; March 13th, 2007
Re: Norval Morrisseau Signature Comparison
Prepared for Joseph Otavnik, Oshawa, ON
Prepared by Brian Lindblom, B.A., FSSocDip - Forensic Document Examiner (Document Examination Consultants Inc.)

3. Forensic Report; File No. 1951/08; November 5th, 2008Re: Norval Morrisseau Paintings
Prepared for Michael Moniz, Brampton, ON
Prepared by Brian Lindblom, B.A., FSSocDip, D-ABFDE - Forensic Document Examiner (Document Examination Consultants Inc.)

4. Forensic Report; WWFS File No. 2002; August 24th, 2010
Re: Signatures of Norval Morrisseau on Paintings
Prepared for James White, Toronto, ON
Prepared by Dr. Atul K. Singla, M.Sc., Pd. D. (Forensic Science) - Forensic Document Examiner (Worldwide Forensic Services Inc.)

5. Supplementary Forensic Report; WWFS File No. 2002A; May 27th, 2011; Re: Signatures of Norval Morrisseau on Paintings
Prepared for James White, Toronto, ON
Prepared by Dr. Atul K. Singla, M.Sc., Pd. D. (Forensic Science) - Forensic Document Examiner (Worldwide Forensic Services Inc.)

6. Summary Report; File No. 3442-1; July 29th, 2011
Re: Examination of Questioned Signatures Pertinent to the Authentication of Paintings of Norval Morrisseau
Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Kenneth J. Davies, B.Sc. C.Ga CFC - Examiner, Questioned Documents (Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios)

7. 2nd Summary Report; File No. 3442-1; November 10th, 2011
Re: Examination of Questioned Signatures Pertinent to the Authentication of Paintings of Norval Morrisseau
Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Kenneth J. Davies, B.Sc. C.Ga CFC - Examiner, Questioned Documents (Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios)

8. 3rd Summary Report; File No. 3442-1; December 19th, 2011
Re: Examination of Questioned Signatures Pertinent to the Authentication of Paintings of Norval Morrisseau
Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Kenneth J. Davies, B.Sc. C.Ga CFC - Examiner, Questioned Documents (Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios)

9. Forensic Report; WWFS File No. 2099; December 21st, 2011
Re: Signatures of Norval Morrisseau on Paintings
Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Dr. Atul K. Singla, M.Sc., Pd. D. (Forensic Science) - Forensic Document Examiner (Worldwide Forensic Services Inc.)

10. Second Supplementary Forensic Report; WWFS File No. 2002B; December 22nd, 2011; Re: Signatures of Norval Morrisseau on Paintings
Prepared for James White, Toronto, ON
Prepared by Dr. Atul K. Singla, M.Sc., Pd. D. (Forensic Science) - Forensic Document Examiner (Worldwide Forensic Services Inc.)

11. 4th Summary Report; File No. 3442-1; April 18th, 2012
Re: Examination of Questioned Signatures Pertinent to the Authentication of Paintings of Norval Morrisseau
Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Kenneth J. Davies, B.Sc. C.Ga CFC - Examiner, Questioned Documents (Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios)

12. 5th Summary Report; File No. 3442-1; May 3rd, 2013
Re: Examination of Questioned Signatures Pertinent to the Authentication of Paintings of Norval Morrisseau
Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Kenneth J. Davies, B.Sc. C.Ga CFC - Examiner, Questioned Documents (Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios)

13. 6th, Summary Report; File No. 3442-1; September 25th, 2017

Re: Examination of Questioned Signatures Pertinent to the Authentication of Paintings of Norval Morrisseau
Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Kenneth J. Davies, B.Sc. C.Ga CFC - Examiner, Questioned Documents (Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios)

14. Summary Report; File No. 3442-1; September 29th, 2017
Re: Examination of Questioned Signatures Pertinent to the Authentication of Paintings of Norval Morrisseau

Prepared for Ugo Matulic, Calgary, AB
Prepared by Kenneth J. Davies, B.Sc. C.Ga CFC - Examiner, Questioned Documents (Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios)

More Forensic Reports COMING SOON...

Thank you/Miigwetch, 

Ugo Matulić

ugo.matulic@norvalmorrisseau.com

~ In a court judgement Hatfield vs. Artworld of Sherway /Court File No. SC-09-087264-0000/ Judge Paul J. Martial stated the following:

"The Court finds that there is overwhelming evidence that Norval Morrisseau signed paintings in black brush paint.” (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 34)

“The testimony of Mr. Joseph McLeod is indicative of his care and the detailed effort to confirm provenance, including the hiring of a forensic expert to examine the signature on the back of the painting indicate that he took his role to provide appraisals seriously. His testimony… demonstrates his depth of knowledge of the painter due to his lengthy association with the artist.” (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 35)

"The Court rejects his (Donald Robinson) expert report and his conclusion that the Morellian analysis, style, colour, and provenance all pointed to forgery. (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 37)

"Mr. Joseph McLeod's testimony is preferred to that of Mr. Ritchie Sinclair. Mr. Sinclair's testimony of numerous forgers paid for with drugs although dramatic was not supported by the evidence. (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 37)

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> Every painting from the collections of Mr. Rolf Schnieders, Mr. Gary Lamont and Mr. David Voss which were submitted for signature analysis were authenticated by one of Canada's three top internationally recognized Forensic Document Examiners and Handwriting Experts from Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary (click HERE for these Forensic Reports which are available for FREE DOWNLOAD exclusively on this platform. <

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>>> Reference posts:

- Forensic Document Examination (Part I),

- Morrisseau's artwork in Auction Houses, Commercial Art Galleries & Museums Around the World, - Genuine Morrisseau paintings: Appraised, Authenticated and Forensically Analyzed... /In regards to the Genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings signed by the artist with a dry brush (DB) technique/ - Experts in Norval Morrisseau's Art (Part I) /Ref.: Mr. Joseph McLeod/ - Norval Morrisseau authenticating his artworks /In regards to the Genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings signed by the artist with a dry brush (DB) technique/, - Endorsement by Thunder Bay Art Gallery of genuine Morrisseau paintings from 1970's /In regards to the Genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings signed by the artist with a dry brush (DB) technique/, - Authenticity Statement by Mr. Goyce Kakegamic /'In regards to Genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings acquired from Collections of Mr. Rolf Schneiders and Mr. Gary Lamont/, - Statutory Declaration by Mr. Robert Scott, /' Witnessing Norval Morrisseau signing the paintings with a dry brush (DB) technique'/, - Statutory Declaration by Mr. Deiter John Voss, /' Witnessing Norval Morrisseau signing the paintings with a dry brush (DB) technique'/ - Hatfield, Margaret Lorraine vs. Child, Donna and Artworld of Sherway (Part IV).-

~ As per decision of the SUPREME COURT OF CANADA (December 22, 2009), journalists and other media, including bloggers, will be protected from lawsuits if they diligently try to verify information on matters that are in the public interest (click HERE for more information and/or check NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG's DISCLAIMER @ the bottom of this page ). ~ -
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