You've finally seen him. Redd’s worn-out Treasure Trawler is docked at the secret beach, the low-light lanterns are flickering, and there it is—the Animal Crossing solemn painting. It looks regal. It looks expensive. It looks like exactly what Blathers has been nagging you about for three months. But before you drop 4,980 Bells on it, you need to look closer. Like, really close. Because Redd is a cousin who will absolutely sell you a lemon if you aren't paying attention.
Honestly, the Solemn Painting is one of those pieces that trips up even veteran players. It’s based on Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, a 1656 masterpiece that is basically the "Inception" of the art world. It’s a painting of a painting, featuring the Spanish Princess Margarita Teresa, her entourage, and Velázquez himself. In the world of New Horizons, it’s one of the "large" paintings, meaning it takes up a significant chunk of wall space and carries a lot of prestige.
But here is the thing: the fake version is subtle.
The One Detail That Gives Away a Fake Animal Crossing Solemn Painting
In the real-world Las Meninas, the man standing in the doorway in the background—Don José Nieto—has his arm positioned in a very specific way. He’s the guy framed by that bright rectangle of light in the back. In the genuine Animal Crossing solemn painting, his arm should be nearly horizontal, almost parallel to the floor, as he holds back a curtain.
If you’re looking at a forgery, his arm is angled much higher. It looks like he’s waving or reaching up at a 45-degree angle. That’s it. That’s the whole tell. It’s a tiny shift in pixels that determines whether you’re a patron of the arts or a victim of a kitschy scam.
I’ve seen people argue that the height of the princess or the expression of the dog matters. It doesn't. Forget the dog. Don't worry about the dwarf or the ladies-in-waiting. Just look at the man in the door. If he looks like he’s just casually holding a curtain, you're golden. If he looks like he's trying to hail a taxi in downtown Madrid, walk away.
Why This Painting Specifically Matters for Your Museum
Getting the Animal Crossing solemn painting into your gallery isn't just about completionism. It's about the scale. Some paintings in the game, like the Flowery Painting or the Moody Painting, are relatively small. They’re fine for a bathroom or a hallway. But the Solemn Painting is massive. It commands a room. When you donate the real deal to Blathers, he’ll go into a whole spiel about the "theology of painting."
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Velázquez used a technique called aerial perspective. He wasn't just painting people; he was painting the air between them. In the game, the texture of the canvas actually reflects this if you zoom in with the Pro Camera app. The developers at Nintendo didn't just copy-paste a JPEG; they actually captured the depth of the original work.
Haunted or Just Expensive?
There’s a lot of chatter in the Animal Crossing community about "haunted" art. We know the Wistful Painting blinks. We know the Ancient Statue floats. Some players swear the Animal Crossing solemn painting is haunted too, claiming the man in the back moves or the princess's eyes follow you.
Let’s clear that up: it isn't haunted.
I know, it’s a bummer. It would be cool if Don José Nieto eventually walked out of the frame, but he stays put. The "movement" people report is usually just the result of the game's lighting engine shifting as the day turns into night. If you have the painting in a room with windows, the shadows will crawl across the canvas, making it look like the figures are shifting. It’s just good programming, not a ghost.
The Real-World Connection: Diego Velázquez and Las Meninas
If you want to understand why this painting is in the game at all, you have to look at its history. Las Meninas hangs in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It’s widely considered one of the most important paintings in Western art history.
- The King and Queen are visible in the mirror in the back.
- Velázquez included himself in the frame, wearing the Order of Santiago.
- The princess is the focal point, but the "action" is actually happening where the viewer is standing.
When you buy the Animal Crossing solemn painting, you're buying a piece of that meta-narrative. It makes your digital home feel a bit more grounded in human history. Plus, it just looks cool next to a Grand Piano or a Chesterfield Coat on a display stand.
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How to Handle Redd’s Rotations
Redd is unpredictable. He doesn't show up on a fixed schedule like Daisy Mae. Because the Animal Crossing solemn painting is a "large" piece, it doesn't appear in his inventory as often as the smaller, more common works.
If you see it, and it's real, buy it. Even if you already have one.
Why? Because the Solemn Painting is a high-value trade item. On platforms like Nookazon or various Discord trading servers, a genuine Solemn Painting can fetch a massive amount of Nook Miles Tickets (NMTs) or rare furniture. Since it's a "frequented" fake—meaning the forgery appears quite often—a verified genuine version is a commodity.
A Quick Checklist Before You Pull the Trigger
- Zoom in. Use the X button to get a close-up of the art on Redd's boat.
- Look at the doorway. Find the man in the back.
- Check the arm. Is it flat (Real) or raised (Fake)?
- Check your storage. Did you already donate this? Blathers won't take a second one.
Honestly, the lighting on Redd's boat is terrible. It’s dim, it’s sepia-toned, and it’s designed to make you make mistakes. If you’re playing on a handheld Switch Lite, it can be even harder to see that tiny arm in the background. Don't be afraid to take a screenshot and zoom in even further in your Photo Gallery.
What to Do With a Fake Solemn Painting
So, you messed up. You bought the fake. You ran to the museum, and Blathers gave you that look of pure, feathered disappointment. Now you’re stuck with a forgery that Timmy and Tommy won't even buy from you.
Don't just trash it.
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The fake Animal Crossing solemn painting still looks 95% like the real thing. It’s great for "dark academy" themed rooms or a library. If you’re building a "fake" museum or a secret smuggler’s den on your island, the forgeries are perfect decor. Some players even use them to create outdoor art galleries or "painting in the park" scenes. Since the fake man's arm is just slightly higher, most visitors won't even notice it’s a sham unless they’re art history nerds or they’ve read this article.
Summary of Differences
- Genuine: The man in the background doorway has his arm held out mostly straight to the side.
- Forgery: The man in the background doorway has his arm raised significantly higher, as if waving.
Everything else in the painting is identical. The colors, the princess's dress, the dog on the floor—they are all the same between both versions. This is one of the more "fair" fakes in the game because the tell is always there, provided you know where to look.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you are serious about finishing that art wing, stop relying on luck. Redd’s boat is a slow grind. Instead, focus on the Harv’s Island Plaza. Once you pay the 100,000 Bell fee to get Redd his permanent stall there, his inventory refreshes every single day if you buy something.
Here is the pro tip: buy one of his items every day, even if they are both fakes. This forces the game to cycle in new stock the next morning. If you just leave the two fakes sitting there, they will stay there for the entire week. By "clearing" the inventory, you drastically increase your chances of seeing the Animal Crossing solemn painting sooner rather than later.
Also, keep an eye on your mail. Villagers will occasionally send you art. Smug villagers are known for sending paintings, though they can sometimes send fakes. Jock and Lazy villagers are more likely to send you fakes (or "cool things they found"), while the "Sisterly" or "Cranky" types have a slightly better track record. It’s a gamble, but it’s a free one.
Once you have the real painting, place it in your museum and enjoy the satisfaction of a completed entry. The art gallery is easily the most beautiful part of the museum, and the Solemn Painting is one of its crown jewels. Just remember: watch the arm. Always watch the arm.