The First Forensic Signature Report Analyzing Norval Morrisseau's Signatues EVER!

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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

From left to right /All paintings ©  by Norval Morrisseau/:

Top: "Spirit Composition", approx. 3'x4', © 1979; "Shaman Underworld", approx. 5'x3', © 1976; Middle: "Fire Spirit", 2.5'x2.5', © 1977; "Astral Spirit with Evil Serpent", approx. 5'x3', © 1978; "Copper Thunderbird", approx. 6'x4', © 1977; Bottom: "Artist Speaks with Moose Spirit", approx, 5'x5', © 1979; "Family", approx. 5'x5', © 1971. /Click on image to Enlarge/

Brian Lindblom (ret.)

>>> The above presented are 7 out of 12 paintings which are part of the forensic report analysis by Mr. Brian Lindblom (retired) of 'The Document Examination Consultants Inc.' - Forensic Expert & Document Examiner; Report dated January 24th, 2002.

Note: This report had been generated for Mr. Joseph McLeod (1928-2017) of Maslak McLeod Gallery - who was at that time a member of Art Dealers Association of Canada (ADAC); and was also a member of The Canadian Association of Personal Property Appraisers (CPPA).


a)

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~ Dated January 24th, 2002
/Click on image to Download/

> Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/ by Mr. Brian Lindblom of 'The Document Examination Consultants Inc.' - Forensic Expert & Document Examiner with X-RCMP fraud division credentials!.

Questioned painting No. 1

Page 5)

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"Warrior Thunderbird", 72"x48", © 1977 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Note: In a report this painting is labeled as "Copper Thunderbird"
         /see below/

"Copper Thunderbird", approx. 6'x4', © 1977 Norval Morrisseau
~ See page 5 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/
 

Questioned painting No. 2

Page 6)

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"Artist Speaks to Moose Spirit", 52"x57", © 1979 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

~ This painting was shown in 2007 on page 40 in the exhibition catalogue at Maslak McLeod Gallery - Endorsed by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Honourable James K. Bartleman (click HERE).

"Artist Speaks to Moose Spirit", approx. 5'x5', © 1979 Norval Morrisseau
~ See page 6 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/


Questioned painting No. 5

Page 9)

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"Fire Spirit", approx. 2.5'x2.5', © 1979 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Note: In a report this painting is labeled as "Fire Spirit"
         /see below/

"Fire Spirit", approx. 2.5'x2.5', © 1979 Norval Morrisseau

~ See page 9 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/


Questioned painting No. 6

Page 10)

"Untitled", 29"x43", © 1979 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Note: In a report this painting is labeled as "Spirit Composition"
         /see below/

"Spirit Composition", approx. 3'x4', © 1979 Norval Morrisseau

~ See page 10 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/


Questioned painting No. 9

Page 13)

"Untitled", 35"x55", © 1976 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Notes: This painting is currently available for purchase at Maslak McLeod Gallery, Toronto, Ontario (click HERE or HERE); titled "Woman and Man in Nature".

~ This painting was shown in 2007 on page 36 in the exhibition catalogue at Maslak McLeod Gallery - Endorsed by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Honourable James K. Bartleman (click HERE).

~ Click HERE to view this painting shown behind Mr. Martin Mills, Mr. Christian McLeod and Mr. Phil Fontaine who is a former Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

In a report this painting is labeled as "Shaman Underworld"

/see below/

"Shaman Underworld", 3'x5', © 1976 Norval Morrisseau

~ See page 13 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Questioned painting No. 10

Page 14)

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"Together", 40"x54", © 1977 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Note: This painting was shown in 2007 on page 37 in the exhibition catalogue at Maslak McLeod Gallery - Endorsed by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Honourable James K. Bartleman (click HERE)

"Together", approx. 4'x5', © 1977 Norval Morrisseau
~ See page 14 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/


Questioned painting No. 11

Page 15)

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"Untitled", 58"x55", © 1971 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

~ This painting was shown in 2007 on page 32 in the exhibition catalogue at Maslak McLeod Gallery - Endorsed by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Honourable James K. Bartleman (click HERE).

In a report this painting is labeled as "Family"
/see below/

"Family", 58"x55", © 1971 Norval Morrisseau

~ See page 15 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/


Questioned painting No. 12

Page 16)

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"Ancestral Spirit with Evil Serpent", 58"x37", © 1978 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/

Note: In a report this painting is labeled as "Astral Spirit with Evil Serpent" /see below/

"Astral Spirit with Evil Serpent", 58"x37", © 1979 Norval Morrisseau

~ See page 16 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/
/Front image and inscription on the reverse side of canvas/
/Click on image to Enlarge/


>>> The following are the Methods and Observation of Mr. Brian Lindblom of 'The Document Examination Consultants Inc.' - Forensic Expert & Document Examiner (see pages 2, 3 & 4 of Forensic Report analysis /File No. 1349/02/:

"As stated earlier, many of the signatures, hand printed titles and accompanying dates have probably been executed with a paintbrush and ink. As such the movements are somewhat more simplistic and elementary than one would expect to find in a normal cursive signature executed with a pen. Consideration was given to the influence of the writing instrument and surface in the comparison that was conducted. On some of the paintings the signature and/or title is partially missing due to either smudging or gradual removal of portions of the ink. As such, certain characteristics in the signature can no longer be assessed.

Seven of the signatures, some of which are accompanied by titles, show clear indications of writing movements that are consistent with the hand printing and signatures in the Norval Morrisseau samples. The types of similarities identified are habits of connecting certain letters and disconnecting others; proportions of one letter to another; the relative size of one letter to another; slope; spacing; and alignment. In most instances it was noted that the uppercase N and M of the given and surname had some differences in structure. Most particularly they differ from the specimens in that they often lack some of the initial movements and have separated strokes. In my opinion these discrepancies may very well be accounted for by the influence of the writing instrument, resulting in cruder letter structures.

The specific paintings that show the above similarities are: Artist Speaks to Moose Spirit,79; Copper Thunderbird, 77; Loons, 75; Spirit Composition, 79; Shaman Underworld, 78; Together, 77; and Family; 71.

The signatures and titles on the remaining paintings are either too indistinct or too abbreviated in form to allow an opinion to be expressed."

Brian Lindblom

January 24th, 2002

Source: Courtesy of Mr. Joseph McLeod (1928-2017), Toronto, Ontario

~ 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).

* The acrylic paintings on canvas presented in this post: All © by Norval Morrisseau /Private Collections and as noted/