[CPProt.net] Painter charged with art heist; THE accused is a successful Australian painter

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Painter charged with art heist
Tony Koch
August 15, 2005
THE accused is a successful Australian painter.

The art he has been charged with stealing is the work of leading
contemporary artists such as William Robinson and Joe Furlonger. And those
allegedly fleeced in the art heist include prominent Sydney art dealer Ray
Hughes. 

Nationally acclaimed Queensland artist Richard Dunlop, 44, was charged with
stealing after police raided his suburban Brisbane home last Friday and took
possession of several hundred oils, sketches, prints and etchings. 

With hundreds of paintings involved, the case is thought to be the largest
ever theft of Australian original artwork. 

Dr Dunlop has been summonsed to appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court
on September 12. 

Detective Sergeant Justin Anderson yesterday confirmed police had
confiscated the artworks after receiving a complaint of the theft which had
allegedly been conducted over 12 years. 

"A search warrant was obtained last Friday and executed on a private house
in Windsor, Brisbane," he said. 

"We recovered a substantial amount of artwork, paintings, etchings and
prints by a number of prominent Australian artists. 

"This investigation has just begun and we now have to authenticate the art
we have recovered." 

Dr Dunlop yesterday confirmed that police had searched his home and taken
sketches and artwork, but indicated he would vigorously defend the charges. 

"The charge which I will be defending relates to drawings which I estimate
to be worth approximately $600 in total, which I have offered to donate to a
public gallery," he said in a prepared statement. 

"I paid $75 cash for them in 1994 from Scott Whittaker. 

"I left Ray Hughes Gallery in 2002 and, like William Robinson who left
before me, I have enjoyed unparalleled commercial success with other
galleries since." 

Scott Whittaker from Brisbane's Doggett Street Studio said yesterday he had
accompanied police on Friday's search of Mr Dunlop's house. 

He said paintings he had done and also some by his wife, Alyson Reynolds,
were among those recovered. 

It is understood more than 300 works by artist Joe Furlonger were included,
as well as several by Australia's top contemporary artist, William Robinson.


Allegations being investigated include that many paintings were stolen from
prominent Sydney art dealer, Ray Hughes of Surry Hills. 

Mr Hughes confirmed yesterday that a large number of paintings from his
gallery were missing.

He said he was "gutted" by the revelations, and felt betrayed. 

"I have been involved in this business for 30 years, and we are a family - a
fragile family - but we operate on trust and innocent support of one
another," he said. 

"I feel totally violated." 

Mr Hughes spent the weekend hosting the wedding of one of his artists, Brett
McMahon, at his Hunter Valley property. The wedding was attended by several
other noted artists, including Joe Furlonger. 

It is anticipated that galleries throughout eastern Australia will become
involved in the investigation this week. 

The allegations of theft came to light after three Robinson paintings were
sold recently through Sotheby's auctions, and when the vendor's name was
checked, questions were asked about how he acquired the works. 

Last week, police were alerted when a Brisbane art valuer was handed works
by a person who allegedly was not the artist responsible for the paintings
and etchings. 

The allegation is that the many artworks stolen were taken from storerooms
at several galleries over a long period of time.