You hear that low, rhythmic engine hum. You see the black smoke billowing behind the secret beach. Honestly, it’s a mix of excitement and pure anxiety. Jolly Redd is back on your island, and he’s ready to scam you out of 4,980 Bells. This fox is a menace. He stands there in his dimly lit trawler, surrounded by "masterpieces" that are actually just cheap knockoffs he probably painted in a basement somewhere. If you've ever donated a painting to Blathers only to have that poor owl look at you with soul-crushing disappointment because it's a forgery, you know the pain. That’s exactly why you need a reliable Animal Crossing New Horizons art cheat sheet to navigate the shady world of high-stakes island antiquity.
Redd isn't just selling art; he’s playing a game of "Spot the Difference." Some of these fakes are hilarious. Some are incredibly subtle. We’re talking about a single eyebrow being slightly too arched or a coffee stain that shouldn't be there. It’s tricky.
Why Redd is So Good at Being Bad
Blathers won't take fakes. He can't. The museum's reputation is on the line, and quite frankly, he’s terrified of bugs, not art critics. When you buy a fake, you’re stuck with a piece of junk you can’t sell at Nook’s Cranny. Timmy and Tommy won't touch it. Your only options are to trash it, give it to a villager who doesn’t know better (kind of a mean move, honestly), or display it in your home as a "tribute" to your own gullibility.
The game developers at Nintendo didn't just make things random. They based every single piece of art in the game on real-world historical treasures. We're talking Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, and Hokusai. Because these are based on real life, the "tells" for the forgeries are consistent. Once you know what to look for, Redd loses his power over you.
The Most Common Forgeries You'll Encounter
Let's look at the Academic Painting, which is actually Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci. In the real version, there are no stains. In Redd’s fake version? There’s a distinct coffee ring in the upper right corner. It’s like he was eating breakfast while forging it.
Then there’s the Amazing Painting (The Night Watch). This one is a nightmare for people who aren't paying attention. In the genuine version, the man in the center (Frans Banninck Cocq) is wearing a red sash. In the fake, his hat is missing, or rather, the man in the center isn't wearing the right hat. Actually, the easiest way to tell is the man in the middle—if he's missing his hat, it's a dud.
The Basic Painting is another classic trap. Based on The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough, the fake features a kid with bangs that cover his entire forehead. The real boy has a much more stylish, pushed-back fringe. It’s a subtle hair-styling choice that makes or breaks your museum collection.
The Art Cheat Sheet for Portraits and People
Portraits are where Redd gets really creative with his "enhancements." Take the Jolly Painting. It’s based on Summer by Giuseppe Arcimboldo. It’s a face made of vegetables. In the fake version, there’s a sprout coming out of the man’s chest. The real one doesn't have that little leafy surprise.
- Moving Painting: This is Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Look at the trees in the background on the right side. In the real painting, they are there. In the fake? No trees. Just empty space. It looks weirdly desolate once you notice it.
- Quaint Painting: Vermeer’s The Milkmaid. This is a tough one. Check the amount of milk being poured. The fake version has a massive, thick stream of milk gushing out. The real one is a thin, delicate trickle.
- Scary Painting: This is Otani Oniji III as Edobei. The eyebrows are the key. In the genuine version, the actor looks angry with slanted, downward-pointing eyebrows. The fake version has him looking surprised or worried because the eyebrows are arched upward. It completely changes the "vibe" of the piece.
- Serene Painting: Da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine. In the real one, the ermine (the little weasel-looking thing) is white. Redd’s fake version features a grey or bi-colored ermine that looks more like a ferret.
Sometimes, the fakes are actually "haunted." If you buy a fake Wistful Painting (Girl with a Pearl Earring), you might notice her eyes close at night. Or, if you have the fake Ancient Statue, it might start glowing or even floating. Honestly, some people collect the fakes specifically for these weird paranormal activities. It’s a vibe.
Statues are the Ultimate Test
Statues are expensive and they take up a lot of space, so getting scammed on a statue feels twice as bad. The Gallant Statue (David by Michelangelo) is a prime example. In the fake version, David is carrying a book under his right arm. Why would David be carrying a book to a giant-slaying? He wouldn't. He’s a warrior, not a librarian.
The Beautiful Statue (Venus de Milo) is another one that trips people up. In the fake version, she’s wearing a necklace. It’s a thick, cord-like necklace that definitely wasn't part of the original Grecian marble.
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Then you have the Motherly Statue. The real Romulus and Remus are nursing from the wolf. In the fake version, the wolf has her tongue hanging out. It looks less like a founding myth of Rome and more like a tired dog at the park.
Landscapes and Larger Works
Not everything has a fake. This is a crucial part of any Animal Crossing New Horizons art cheat sheet. Some items are always genuine. If you see these on Redd's boat, buy them immediately (assuming you don't already have them).
- Calm Painting (A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte)
- Flowery Painting (Sunflowers by Van Gogh)
- Glowing Painting (The Fighting Temeraire)
- Moody Painting (The Sower)
- Mysterious Painting (Isle of the Dead)
- Nice Painting (The Flautist)
- Proper Painting (A Bar at the Folies-Bergère)
- Sinking Painting (Ophelia)
- Twinkling Painting (The Starry Night)
- Worthy Painting (Liberty Leading the People)
Why are these always real? Probably because it's too hard to make a convincing "fake" of Van Gogh’s brushwork or the sheer scale of La Grande Jatte within the game's engine. Whatever the reason, these are safe bets. If Redd has two of these, well, you can only buy one per day, so choose the one you're missing.
The Tricky Case of the Wild Painting
The Wild Painting is split into two halves: Left Half and Right Half. This is the bane of many collectors.
On the Left Half, the deity (Raijin) should be white. If he’s green, it’s a fake.
On the Right Half, the deity (Fujin) should be green. If he’s white, Redd is trying to pull a fast one on you.
It’s easy to get them swapped in your head. Just remember: White on the Left, Green on the Right.
How to Inspect Art Properly
Don't just look at the thumbnail. When you’re on the boat, you can "take a closer look." Use the right joystick to zoom in. Pan around. Look at the corners. Look at the colors.
If you’re playing in handheld mode, it might be harder to see the tiny details like the "thick stream of milk" or the "coffee stain." Dock your Switch if you can. Seeing these textures on a 4K TV—even though the game is 1080p—makes it significantly easier to spot the inconsistencies in Redd’s shoddy craftsmanship.
The "All Fakes" Scenario
It happens. Sometimes Redd shows up and all four pieces of art are fakes. It feels like a personal insult, doesn't it? If this happens, you have two choices. You can buy one anyway just to get the "fake art" Nook Miles achievement (if you haven't yet), or you can just walk away.
Actually, there is a third option. You can buy a fake just to get it out of the rotation. Some players believe this helps cycle the RNG for his next visit, though that’s more of an island myth than a hard-coded fact.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
Next time you see that smoke on the horizon, don't rush in blindly.
- Open a Reference: Have a high-res image of the real-world artwork pulled up on your phone. If you're looking at the Famous Painting, compare the eyebrows of the Mona Lisa. In the fake, they are dramatically slanted up at the ends.
- Check the Statue's Accessories: Look for things that shouldn't be there. Watches, books, necklaces, or even shovels.
- Verify the "Always Real" List: If you see something from the list above, and you don't have it in your museum, buy it. It’s a guaranteed win.
- Don't Forget the Furniture: Redd sells high-end furniture (often in colors you can't get at Nook's Cranny). Even if the art is all fake, the trip might not be a total waste if he has a cool 2.0 update item.
Blathers is waiting. He’s been standing in that empty gallery for months, hoping you’ll bring him something other than a common butterfly. Use these tips, keep your Bells safe, and finally finish that art wing. Just remember: if the ermine looks like a dumpster cat, keep your wallet closed.
Next Steps for Your Museum
- Log your current collection: Go to the museum and look at the plaques to see exactly which pieces you are missing.
- Visit Harv's Island: If you've unlocked the shops at Harv’s, make sure you’ve funded Redd’s stall. This gives you access to two new pieces of art every single day, which is much faster than waiting for his boat to drift into your secret beach once every two weeks.
- Clean out the fakes: If you accidentally bought a forgery, head to the Resident Services trash can or use a wastebasket furniture item to dispose of it properly and clear your inventory space.