Blathers has a way of making you feel like a total uncultured philistine when you hand him a counterfeit. You’ve spent 4,980 Bells, waited a day for the mail, and trekked up to the museum only to realize Redd played you. Again. It’s annoying. The solemn painting animal crossing players frequently hunt for is one of the trickiest pieces in the game because the "tell" is so subtle it almost feels like a prank by the developers.
Redd is a cousin you can't trust.
Basically, the solemn painting is a digital recreation of Las Meninas, the 1656 masterpiece by Diego Velázquez. In the world of art history, this is the "final boss" of paintings. It’s huge, it’s meta, and it’s layered with complex reflections. In New Horizons, it’s a large-scale piece that takes up a significant chunk of wall space. But before you donate it, you have to look at the man in the doorway.
The Tiny Detail That Costs 5,000 Bells
Look at the back of the room. There’s a guy named José Nieto standing in a doorway. In the real solemn painting, his arm is bent at an angle, resting against the doorframe or held in a way that shows he's just... hanging out. It’s a natural pose.
The fake? He’s a bit of a show-off. In the forgery, the man’s arm is raised much higher, almost pointing or reaching upward at a steeper angle.
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It’s a nightmare to see on a tiny Switch Lite screen. You basically have to press your nose against the glass. If you’re playing on a TV, it’s easier, but even then, the lighting on Redd’s boat is intentionally garbage. He uses those dim, flickering lanterns specifically to hide the fact that he's selling you a knock-off. If the man in the back looks like he’s waving his arm around too much, walk away. Don't give that fox your money.
Why Las Meninas Matters Beyond the Museum
Velázquez wasn't just painting a portrait of Princess Margaret Theresa. He was painting a "behind the scenes" look at the Spanish court. You can see the artist himself on the left, standing at a massive canvas. You can see the King and Queen reflected in the mirror in the back. It’s a painting about painting.
When you place the solemn painting animal crossing version in your home, you aren’t just getting "Art Item #42." You’re getting a piece that scholars like Michel Foucault wrote entire chapters about. The game captures the scale of the original quite well. Because it’s a "Large" size item, it works perfectly as a focal point in a library-themed room or a formal study. Pair it with some classic furniture or a fireplace, and suddenly your island looks like it has old-money vibes.
Identifying Forgeries Without Losing Your Mind
Redd’s Treasure Trawler is a shady place. Honestly, the best way to handle the solemn painting is to use the camera zoom function. When you’re inspecting the art, you can actually move the camera around. Don't just look at the thumbnail.
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- Approach the painting on the pedestal.
- Select the option to "Take a closer look."
- Use the right joystick to scroll to the very back of the scene.
- Focus exclusively on the man in the doorway (José Nieto).
If his hand is mostly flat against the door or the curtain, you’re golden. If his arm is raised significantly higher—approaching a 45-degree angle or higher—it’s a fake.
There’s also the "haunted" factor to consider. Some paintings in Animal Crossing: New Horizons change at night. The Wistful Painting blinks. The Ancient Statue floats. However, the solemn painting isn't one of the haunted ones. If you buy the fake, you’re just stuck with a boring, incorrect piece of canvas that Timmy and Tommy won't even buy from you. You can’t even give it to your villagers. They have standards, apparently.
Designing Around the Solemn Painting
Once you’ve actually secured the genuine version, the real fun starts. Because this painting is tall and wide, it doesn't fit everywhere. Most people try to cram it into a gallery wall, but it’s too big. It eats up the space.
Instead, try using it as a "room divider" in a way. If you use the Pro Decorating License, you can hang it on a partition wall. It creates this sense of grandeur. I’ve seen players use it in "haunted mansion" builds too. Even though it isn't officially haunted, the dark colors and the brooding atmosphere of the Spanish court fit that aesthetic perfectly.
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The color palette is mostly earthy. We’re talking ochre, deep blacks, muted silvers, and that one pop of red on the artist’s chest (the Order of Santiago cross, which Velázquez actually added to the painting years later after he was knighted). Because of these tones, it looks best against "Black Hallway Wall" or "Classic Library Wall." Putting it on a bright, "Cute" series wallpaper is a crime against interior design. Don’t do that.
Summary of Differences
It's easy to get confused when you're looking at a dozen different guides. Just remember this:
- Real Version: The man in the background has his arm slightly bent, resting naturally near the door.
- Fake Version: The man’s arm is raised high, almost like he’s pointing at the ceiling or reaching for something.
Taking Action: Your Next Steps
Before you go back to the secret beach, do these three things to ensure your museum stays authentic:
- Update your camera app: Make sure you have the Pro Camera App from the Nook Stop. The "Handheld Camera" mode allows you to get much closer to the art on Redd's boat than the standard view.
- Check your storage: If you already have a solemn painting and aren't sure if it’s real, try to drop it in the donation box at Nook’s Cranny. If they won't take it, or if Blathers gives you the "this is a forgery" speech, you have a fake. Use it for a "trash" area on your island or put it in a spooky basement.
- Verify the silhouette: The solemn painting is a vertical rectangle. If Redd is selling a piece that looks like a square or a horizontal landscape, it’s not the solemn painting; it’s likely the Amazing Painting or the Quaint Painting.
Don't let the fox win. Look at the man in the door, check the arm, and only then hand over the Bells.