You’ve probably seen Redd’s dingy trawler pulled up to your secret beach, the dim lighting and sketchy atmosphere making everything look a little bit questionable. It’s stressful. You’re standing there with your hard-earned Bells, staring at the Animal Crossing academic painting, wondering if you’re about to get scammed by a fox in a stained apron. Honestly, it happens to the best of us. This specific piece of art is one of the most famous in the game—and for good reason—but it’s also one of the easiest to mess up if you aren't paying close attention to the corners of the canvas.
What is the Animal Crossing academic painting anyway?
The "academic painting" is actually Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Created around 1490, it’s basically the gold standard for human proportions. Da Vinci was obsessed with how the human body fit into geometric shapes like the circle and the square. In New Horizons, Blathers will happily take the real version for the museum, where it gets displayed with a nice little plaque explaining its history. But Redd is a hustler. He carries fakes. And unlike some other paintings where the fake is glaringly obvious (looking at you, Scary Painting with the eyebrows), the academic painting is all about a tiny, coffee-stained detail.
If you’re looking at a fake version, you’ll see a faint, circular stain in the top right corner. It looks like someone set a mug of coffee down on the parchment. The real one is clean. No stains. Just the ink and the genius of the Renaissance.
The lore and the logic
Why does Redd even have these? It's a weird part of the game's economy. The Animal Crossing academic painting serves as a gatekeeper for your museum's art gallery. If you’re trying to get that perfect 5-star island rating, you need a robust museum, and you can’t get that without navigating Redd’s nonsense.
The interesting thing is that in previous games, like New Leaf, the fake was different. Back then, the fake Vitruvian Man had a weirdly large, muscular arm on one side. Nintendo changed it for New Horizons to the coffee stain. It’s a subtle nod to the idea that these are "forgeries" being handled in a back-alley ship. Maybe Redd himself was drinking a latte while trying to copy a masterpiece. Who knows?
Checking the back of the canvas
One trick many players forget is that the Animal Crossing academic painting—if it’s real—will have a small slip of paper on the back of the canvas once you buy it and check your inventory. This is the "Certificate of Authenticity." If you’re trading with another player or buying from a Nookazon listing, always ask them to show you the back or place it down so you can see if that slip is there. Fakes don't have it.
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Why Blathers cares so much
Blathers is a bit of a snob, but he’s right to be. The Vitruvian Man represents the bridge between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It’s science and art colliding. When you donate the real Animal Crossing academic painting, you aren't just filling a slot in the wing; you’re bringing a piece of human (or owl-adjacent) history to your island.
The game does a great job of making the art feel heavy. When you walk through the gallery, the lighting changes. The music gets softer. It’s a vibe.
Spotting the difference: A quick guide
Look, I get it. You're in a hurry. You don't want to spend twenty minutes squinting at a Switch Lite screen. Here is the deal with the Animal Crossing academic painting:
- The Real Deal: The paper is old, sure, but it is uniform. There are no large, dark circles in the corners. The lines are crisp.
- The Forgery: Look at the top right corner. If there is a dark, circular mark—like a stain—it is 100% a fake. Don't buy it unless you specifically want a haunted-looking house.
Interestingly, some players actually prefer the fakes. There’s a whole subculture of "fake art" collectors who think the coffee stain adds character to a library or a study-themed room. If you’re going for a "messy scientist" aesthetic, the fake Animal Crossing academic painting is actually better than the real one.
Is the painting haunted?
There’s a lot of talk in the community about haunted art. The Ancient Statue floats. The Wistful Painting closes its eyes at night. People always ask if the Animal Crossing academic painting is haunted.
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The short answer: No.
The long answer: It doesn't move or change, but it does have a weird energy. Because it’s a sketch on parchment rather than a traditional oil painting, it stands out against the more colorful pieces like the Flowery Painting or the Sinking Painting. It feels more "academic," hence the name.
How to get it consistently
Redd is random. His schedule is a nightmare. You might see him once a week, or you might go three weeks without a sighting. To get the Animal Crossing academic painting, you have two real options:
- Harv’s Island: This is the pro move. Once you unlock the shops on Harv’s Island, you can pay 100,000 Bells to get Redd a permanent stall. He cycles his inventory every Monday. If he’s selling two fakes, buy one anyway! Buying a fake forces him to replace that slot with something else the next day. This is the fastest way to cycle through his inventory to find the real Vitruvian Man.
- Trading Communities: Sites like Nookazon or various Discord servers are full of people who have extra art. Just be careful. Scams are real. Always verify the art before you leave the island.
The value of the Academic Painting
In terms of raw Bells, the Animal Crossing academic painting isn't the most "expensive" in the player-run economy. Usually, the statues like the Valiant Statue or Great Statue go for much more. However, for a completionist, this painting is vital. It’s one of those mid-tier pieces that everyone needs but often overlooks until they realize their gallery has a giant hole in the middle.
Think about your island's theme. If you’re building a classic European city, the academic painting looks incredible on a simple panel or a customized easel in an outdoor market. Even the fake one works there.
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Don't let Redd win
Redd relies on you being lazy. He knows you’re tired of terraforming. He knows you just want to finish the museum and move on with your life. But when you see that Animal Crossing academic painting, take five seconds to zoom in. Use the handheld camera mode on your NookPhone if you have to.
If you see that stain, walk away. Or buy it and give it to a villager you don't like. They usually won't even realize it's a fake until they try to donate it themselves. It's a classic prank.
Actionable steps for your next art hunt
Stop guessing. If you want to finish your collection without wasting thousands of Bells on trash, follow this workflow:
- Unlock Redd on Harv's Island immediately. The random boat arrivals are too inconsistent for serious collectors. Having a daily-ish check-in point is the only way to stay sane.
- Use the "Buy and Clear" method. If Redd is selling fakes on Harv's Island, buy the cheapest one. This clears the spot and guarantees he brings a new item the following day. If you don't buy anything, his inventory stays the same all week.
- Zoom in. Use the X button to zoom in on the art before you commit. Look at the top right corner of the Animal Crossing academic painting. If there's a ring, it's a fake.
- Check your mail. The day after you buy from Redd, the art arrives. Check it immediately. If you accidentally bought a fake, don't throw it away. You can use it as decor or give it to a friend who doesn't care about museum completion.
- Consult the Museum. If you're ever unsure if you've already donated the piece, check the Nook Shopping app's catalog under the "Art" tab. It will show you everything you’ve held in your pockets. If the little owl icon is next to it in the museum, you're good.
By focusing on the top-right corner for that coffee stain and utilizing Harv's Island to cycle inventory, you can secure the real Animal Crossing academic painting and finally get Blathers to stop bothering you about the empty space in the gallery.