You’re standing there in the dim, slightly eerie lighting of Redd’s Treasure Trawler. The fox is grinning at you. He wants your Bells, but you’re staring at a masterpiece that looks suspiciously like a photo you saw in a history textbook once. This is the Las Meninas Animal Crossing players often hunt for, though in the game, it goes by the name "Solemn Painting."
It’s huge. It’s intimidating. Honestly, it’s one of the most stressful pieces to authenticate because there’s so much going on in the frame.
Diego Velázquez painted the original back in 1656. It’s a literal titan of art history. In New Horizons, it’s a centerpiece for any respectable museum wing, but Redd is a scammer. He’s tried to sell me haunted dolls and fake statues more times than I can count. If you’re looking at the Solemn Painting, you need to look at one specific guy in the background or you’re going to waste thousands of Bells on a worthless piece of canvas.
Spotting the Fake Solemn Painting
Don't panic.
The trick to the Las Meninas Animal Crossing version—the Solemn Painting—is all about the man in the doorway. In the back of the room, there’s a silhouette of a man named José Nieto. In the real painting, his arm is bent at an angle, resting against the doorframe or a curtain. It’s a very specific, relaxed pose.
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The fake? Redd’s counterfeit version features a man who is pointing his arm significantly higher. It’s almost like he’s trying to hail a cab or reach for something on a high shelf. If his arm is pointing up at a sharp angle, keep your Bells in your pocket. It’s a fake.
If his arm is mostly horizontal and resting against the frame, you’ve found the genuine article. Blathers will be thrilled.
Why this painting matters to your museum
You might think, "it's just a painting," but getting the real Solemn Painting is actually a bit of a milestone for collectors. Because of its size, it takes up a significant chunk of wall space. Plus, the history behind it is wild. Velázquez actually painted himself into the scene. He’s the guy on the left with the paintbrush.
Most people don't realize that this painting is basically a 17th-century "meta" joke. He’s painting a portrait of the King and Queen, but you can only see them in the reflection of a mirror in the background. Meanwhile, the Princess (the Infanta Margaret Theresa) is the one in the spotlight.
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In Animal Crossing, the resolution on the Switch screen can make these details hard to see. You basically have to use the handheld camera tool to zoom in until you’re practically touching the screen.
The Redd Gamble: More than just Las Meninas
Look, Redd is tricky. The Las Meninas Animal Crossing "Solemn Painting" is just one of many. Some items in the game are "haunted" and change at night. This isn't one of them. If you buy the fake Solemn Painting, it stays fake. It won't blink at you or smile at 2 AM like the Wistful Painting or the Scary Painting. It just sits there, a permanent reminder that you got fleeced by a fox in a tugboat.
If you already messed up and bought the fake, you can’t donate it. You can't even sell it to Tommy and Timmy. They’ll just give you that disappointed look and tell you they don't deal in forged goods. Your only options are to toss it in a trash can furniture item or use it to decorate a "shady" themed room in your house.
Actually, some people prefer the fakes for home decor. The fake Solemn Painting still looks classy from a distance.
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Quick Authentication Checklist
- Check the doorway in the back.
- Is the man's arm pointing up? Fake.
- Is his arm resting at a lower angle? Real.
- Zoom in with the "X" button before buying. Always.
The Art of the Deal in 2026
We've been playing this game for years now, and the consensus among the Nookazon community is still the same: don't trust your gut. Use a guide. The visual difference between the real and fake Las Meninas Animal Crossing paintings is just a few pixels.
There's also the "Always Real" list to keep in mind. Some paintings, like the Great Wave (Great Painting) or the Calm Painting, don't have fakes. But the Solemn Painting is definitely on the "Danger" list. If you see it, verify it.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit to Redd's
- Bring your camera: Use the Pro Camera app on your NookPhone to get a first-person view. It provides much better clarity than the standard shop zoom.
- Check the light: The Trawler is dark. If you can’t see the man in the doorway clearly, turn up your Switch brightness to the max.
- Cross-reference: Open a high-res image of the real Las Meninas on your phone and hold it up to the screen.
- Buy the genuine: If the arm is low, buy it immediately. It’s one of the rarer spawns in Redd’s rotation.
Once you’ve secured the real deal, take it straight to Blathers. Watching him give his little speech about the Spanish Golden Age is one of the more rewarding moments in the game. It makes the museum feel like a real institution rather than just a collection of bugs you found under a rock.
Don't let the fox win. Look at the doorway, check the arm, and build that gallery.