Heath Ledger portrait story sounds fishy to me

Megan Lynn from pagesix.com reports that painter Vincent Fantauzzo has entered a Heath Ledger portrait into the 2008 Archibald Prize competition. The Archibald Prize, sponsored by the Art Gallery of New South Wales since 1921, is given for portrait painting, preferably of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics. In creating the prize, J.F. Archibald’s primary aims were to foster traditional portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Fantauzzo claims that during a break in Ledger’s frenetic schedule, he painted the portrait while Ledger and his family were in Perth during the 2007 Christmas break, and completed the painting later in Melbourne. All portraits entered in the competition must be painted from life, not photographs, and according to Fantauzzo, Ledger signed a form to vouch for the painting’s authenticity, although he “signed it in the wrong spot.” The painting is one of 249 entries. The winner will be decided on March 7. Read more.