Image Source: AI Generated
Players of Animal Crossing: New Horizons feel a rush of excitement when they spot the Amazing Painting at Redd’s shop. The crafty Redd’s reputation for selling forgeries makes distinguishing real masterpieces from fakes quite challenging.
My passion as an ACNH art guide enthusiast has led me to study the subtle differences between authentic and counterfeit versions extensively. The iconic piece holds special significance for both seasoned collectors and newcomers building their museum’s art wing. You’ll learn to identify the genuine Amazing Painting and save your hard-earned bells from being spent on clever imitations.
This piece will show you the key signs of authenticity that matter. You’ll discover where to find this masterpiece and make it a treasured addition to your museum collection.
Understanding the Amazing Painting’s Origins
Let me tell you about the origins of one of the most remarkable pieces in our ACNH art collection. The Amazing Painting comes from a masterpiece that I love – The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn.
The Night Watch by Rembrandt
Rembrandt completed this colossal painting in 1642. It stands at an impressive 12.4 × 14.9 feet [1]. The way Rembrandt turned a simple group portrait into a dynamic masterpiece never fails to amaze me. The Amsterdam civic guard hall commissioned this painting, and each guardsman paid 100 guilders. The total cost reached 1,600 guilders – a substantial amount back then [2].
Historical significance in art
This piece stands out because of its groundbreaking features:
- The first civic guard painting that showed figures in action instead of static poses [3]
- A revolutionary approach to light and shadow that created drama
- The canvas shows 34 characters, and 18 of them are actual commissioned portraits [1]
The name “Night Watch” stems from an interesting historical mistake. A dark varnish made it look like a nighttime scene for years, but restoration work showed that it depicts a daytime event [1].
Why it appears in Animal Crossing
Nintendo’s choice to add this masterpiece to ACNH reflects something special. The Amazing Painting first appeared in Animal Crossing: Wild World [4], showing the game’s steadfast dedication to art education. Players can learn about the painting’s historical significance through Blathers, who gives an explanation about its restoration and true daytime setting [4]. The museum’s description captures the essence of how this 17th-century Dutch masterpiece reshaped the scene of portrait techniques, making it a perfect fit for our virtual art collections.
Key Visual Differences Between Real and Fake
Spotting fakes in ACNH requires significant attention to detail. Here’s my expertise in identifying the genuine Amazing Painting from its counterfeit version.
The missing hat detail
The central figure provides the most reliable way to authenticate the Amazing Painting. The man in black at the center wears a distinctive hat in the genuine artwork, while this hat doesn’t appear in the forgery [4]. The darkness in Redd’s shop can make this detail hard to spot, so I always zoom in carefully [5].
Positioning and composition
The authentic version has several subtle differences that I’ve observed:
- The man in the middle wears black, while the person next to him is dressed in white
- The composition maintains the original’s dramatic lighting
- The overall positioning of figures remains true to Rembrandt’s masterpiece [4]
Common misconceptions
Players often misunderstand how to authenticate this piece. The key differences between real and fake versions have changed since New Leaf [6]. The positioning of characters that once helped identify fakes no longer matters in New Horizons [7].
Taking your time with the Amazing Painting helps spot the details. The differences can be subtle, especially in Redd’s Treasure Trawler’s dim lighting [5]. I inspect the central figure really well before making my purchase decision.
Note that Redd’s forgeries might look convincing at first glance, but these specific details will help you add an authentic masterpiece to your museum collection.
Where to Find and Purchase the Amazing Painting
Getting your hands on the Amazing Painting means you’ll need to track down our crafty friend Redd. I’ve put in so many hours finding this sneaky art dealer, and I’m happy to share everything I’ve learned.
Locating Redd’s shop
You can reliably find Redd in two spots. His main location is the Treasure Trawler, which shows up at your island’s hidden northern beach [8]. The 2.0 update added another option – he now has a permanent shop at Harv’s Plaza that you can unlock for 100,000 Bells [6].
Purchase process and pricing
Here’s what you should know about buying from Redd:
- Each piece costs 4,980 Bells [7]
- You can buy just one artwork each day [9]
- Your purchase arrives in the mail next day [10]
Pro tip: Players with multiple characters or friends who play can each buy an artwork. This gives you better odds of getting the Amazing Painting [9].
Best times to visit
The timing makes a significant difference in your art hunt. Redd’s shop at Harv’s Plaza displays two pieces daily, and the stock changes after each purchase [11]. The inventory resets every Monday if nothing gets bought [11].
Redd’s island visits happen more randomly, but I’ve noticed he’s more likely to show up if you missed other visitors the week before [12]. Isabelle’s morning announcements help a lot – she mentions Redd’s presence by talking about “suspicious activity” [11].
This systematic approach has helped me grow my art collection steadily. The visits might seem random, but staying patient really pays off.
Authentication and Museum Benefits
I got my Amazing Painting from Redd and now it’s time to add it to the museum’s prestigious collection. Let me show you how this donation process works based on my experience with multiple donations.
Donation process
The first thing I do after buying artwork is go straight to Blathers to get it authenticated. Our owl curator really cares about museum quality and gets into every detail before accepting pieces [13]. Blathers will kindly tell you why he can’t accept it if you bring in a forgery – something I’ve done more times than I’d like to admit [14].
Museum display features
The art wing stands as evidence of cultural preservation. Your first donation will trigger an exciting museum expansion that takes two days to finish [6]. Each authentic piece gets its own special space, and I love how they display both the title plate and donor’s name [13].
Collection completion rewards
The rewards make completing the art collection even more exciting. The 2.0 update brought some fantastic benefits that I found:
- A special commemorative poster to celebrate completing the art wing [15]
- You can buy additional poster copies with bells [15]
- Special museum events like the Stamp Rally become available (May 18-31) [16]
Pro tip: Don’t let forgeries discourage you while building your art collection. Note that you can still display fake artwork in your home or around your island [10]. I’ve created an interesting “forgery garden” with my rejected pieces!
The museum’s art wing needs 43 unique pieces to be complete [6], which makes the Amazing Painting crucial to this impressive collection. Each authentic piece you donate brings you closer to finishing the museum. I’ve learned that patience matters most in this artistic trip.
Conclusion
My trip with the Amazing Painting in ACNH has shown me how patience and attention to detail truly matter. Redd’s crafty ways might seem overwhelming initially, but identifying genuine masterpieces becomes instinctive once you spot that distinctive hat on the central figure.
Donating to the museum feels incredibly rewarding. You get to display authentic pieces and receive special rewards for growing your collection. Many players make hasty purchases, but taking time to get into each artwork saves bells and prevents disappointment.
Each authentic piece moves you closer to completing your museum’s art wing. Forgeries might slip through occasionally, but they can enhance your island’s character when displayed creatively outdoors. Your dedication will be worth it when Blathers accepts your genuine Amazing Painting and adds another masterpiece to your expanding cultural collection.
