Paintings that sold for millions as original Brett Whiteleys are missing prominent features of his style, an art expert says.
Paint application in the works Lavender Bay and Orange Lavender Bay does not align with how the prominent Australian artist worked, according to art conservator Vanessa Kowalski.
Police say the paintings, which sold for $2.5 million and $1.1 million respectively, were created in 2007 and 2008.
Mr Whiteley died from a drug overdose in 1992.
It's alleged the works are forgeries created by Melbourne Art conservator Mohamed Aman Siddique, 66, of Doncaster East, who made millions with art dealer Peter Stanley Gant, 59, by selling them as Whiteley works.
In the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, Ms Kowalski said style and design elements are missing from the paintings, said to have been painted by Mr Whiteley in 1988 and 1989.
Paint analysis indicated they were "relatively recent" and, at the time of testing in 2010, were aligned to what would be expected of a painting less than five years old, she said.
However defence barrister Robert Richter, QC, questioned whether, despite the unusual behaviour of the paint, the works could still be more than 20 years old.
"They may be," she responded.
Sergeant Justin Stefanec told the court he didn't think a 1989 catalogue that included a photo of Orange Lavender Bay could be real.
"The painting didn't exist in 1989 so it couldn't be authentic," he said.
The authenticity of a third painting, Through the Window, Lavender Bay is also disputed.
A committal hearing for Gant and Siddique is expected to continue on Tuesday.
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