In Animal Crossing, players can buy various paintings and statues from Redd, however, he has a tendency to sell forgeries that only a keen eye can spot.
Animal Crossing is a social simulation video game series developed and published by Nintendo. In the game, the player character is a human who lives in a village inhabited by various anthropomorphic animals. These animals carry out various activities, such as bug catching, fossil hunting and fishing.
The gameplay is open-ended. This means that players have no defined objectives but are instead encouraged to spend their time in the village performing any number of activities. The games are played in real-time, utilizing the video game console’s internal clock and calendar.
This means that passage of time in the game world reflects that in reality, as well as the current season and time of day. Certain in-game events, such as holidays or the growth of a tree, occur at certain times or require some duration of time to have passed.
In the Animal Crossing series, players can interact with a merchant named Cousin Redd. He sells various works of art, comprised of paintings and sculptures. However, players should be aware, because his inventory is not always the real deal.
Redd sells famous works of art from all over the world. However, he has a tendency to sell forgeries that only a keen eye can spot. Even though players can purchase and display forgeries, Blathers will not take forged artwork to display at the museum.
Where to find Redd
Players will need to talk to Blathers and have him mention the idea of allowing art before Redd will show up. However, players will need to donate at least 60 items to the museum, such as fish, bugs or fossils. The day after Blathers talks about art, Isabelle will warn the player of shady art dealers during her morning announcements. The player will then be able to find Redd roaming their island.
When talking to him, he will offer the player a random painting for 498,000 Bells. However, after declining, he will give the player a discount to 4,980. The art piece will be genuine. Players should donate the first piece of art to Blathers, and he will talk about opening an art exhibit.
The following day, the museum will be closed for renovations. Shortly after, the museum will open with an art exhibit, and Redd will start appearing on the players island, on random days. Redd shows up on a boat at the players island’s tiny beach. The beach is on the back of the island, and if the player has not terraformed there, they will likely need a ladder to reach it.
How to buy art
At one point, Redd will invite the player on his ship to see more of his art collection. Boarding his boat will put the player in a seedy store of sorts, where Redd sells various furniture, statues, and his precious works of art.
Each time the player visits, Redd will display four works of art. However, several of them may not be genuine and could, instead, be skilful forgeries with only a few tell-tale signs. Players will need to know what to look for, otherwise they may buy the wrong artwork that Blathers will refuse to put in the museum.
How many artworks can a player buy per day?
Every time Redd appears on the player’s island, players may only purchase one piece of artwork per day. When the player buys one, the artwork will be mailed to them by Redd the following day. Players should thus not expect to find it in their pockets.
Even though players can only purchase one art piece a day, other characters can buy one as well. This includes both players living on their island, and visitors from far away in an online multiplayer.
However, players can consider making an alternate (ALT) character on their island. Even if the player is a single player, there is nothing stopping them from creating additional ‘players’ on their island. This will allow the player to purchase multiple artworks per day.
How many real artworks can Redd sell per day?
When Redd arrives on the player’s island, it is possible for him to be sell between zero to four real pieces of art. However, he could also have zero genuine artworks for sale.
How to tell which of Redd’s artwork is real and which is fake
All of Redd’s artworks are based on real paintings and sculptures. However, the tricky fox may try to sell the player a forgery that looks very similar to the genuine art piece. It is important to note that each fake will have a visible difference from the real version.
Serene painting
The original is “Lady with an Ermine” painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. The real version will have a woman holding an all-white ermine. In the fake version, the ermine will have raccoon-like circles around its eyes.
Wistful painting
The real-life painting is Girl With A Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer. The real version has a pearl earring. While the fake version has a star-shaped earring. In another fake version, the woman’s eyes are closed.
Academic painting
The painting is based on the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci. The fake version of this painting will have a coffee stain in the upper right corner.
Graceful painting
It is based on Beauty Looking Back by Hishikawa Moronobu. The real version of the painting has a white tag near her hair. The woman in the fake version does not have the tag, and she is also larger. In another fake version, the lady is looking to the left, instead of to the right.
Jolly painting
The painting is based on Summer by Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The fake version is missing the sprout on the subject’s chest.
Famous painting
The painting is based on the popular Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. The fake version of the painting will have eyebrows. In another fake version, the subjects’ hands are crossed differently.
Scary Painting
The painting is based on Ōtani Oniji the third as Yakko Edobei by Tōshūsai Sharaku. The fake scary painting will have sad-looking eyebrows. The real version’s subject looks angrier. In another fake version, the subject is seen smiling.
Scenic Painting
This painting is based on Pieter Bruegel’s The Hunters In The Snow. The fake version is missing a hunter and several dogs.
Moving Painting
The real-life painting is The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. The fake version of the moving painting is missing trees in the top right corner.
Amazing Painting
The painting is based on ‘The Night Watch’ painted by Rembrandt van Rijn. The man in front of the fake amazing painting is missing his hat.
Quaint Painting
The real-life painting is The Milkmaid painted by Johannes Vermeer. In the fake version, the woman is pouring out much more milk than she is in the genuine version.
Solemn Painting
The solemn painting is based in Diego Velazquez’ Las Meninas. The man in the background of the fake version is raising his arm more than he is in the genuine version.
Basic Painting
The painting is based on The Blue Boy painted by Thomas Gainsborough. The fake version features the boy with more hair.
Wild painting left half
The real-life painting is Folding Screen of Fujin and Raijin by Tawaraya Sotatsu. In the fake version of the painting, the beast is green instead of white.
Wild painting right half
The real-life painting is Folding Screen of Fujin and Raijin by Tawaraya Sotatsu. In the fake version of the painting, the beast is white instead of green.
Detailed painting
The painting is based on Ajisai Sozeizu by Ito Jackuchu. The fake version has purple foliage, instead of blue. It is also missing a signature on the left.
The following paintings will always be the genuine version:
- Warm painting
- Calm painting
- Flowery painting
- Moody painting
- Dynamic painting
- Worthy painting
- Glowing painting
- Common painting
- Sinking painting
- Nice painting
- Proper painting
- Mysterious painting
- Twinkling painting
- Perfect painting
Statues
Warrior Statue
It is based on the Terracotta Warrior. The fake version of the stature is holding a statue, instead of not holding anything.
Motherly Statue
The real-life statute is the Captoline Wolf. The fake version will feature a tongue sticking out of the wolf’s mouth.
Beautiful Statue
The statue is based on Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch. The fake version will be wearing a necklace.
Other fake statues players should be aware of include:
- Robust statue
- Gallant statue
- Informative statue
- Ancient statue
- Tremendous statue
- Mystic statue
- Rock-head statue
- Valiant statue
The following statues will always be genuine:
- Familiar statue
- Great statue
Conclusion
In Animal Crossing, players can buy various paintings and statues from a merchant named Cousin Redd. However, he has a tendency to sell forgeries that only a keen eye can spot. Even though players can purchase and display the fake artwork, Blathers will not take forged artwork to display at the museum.
It is very clear that players should pay attention to the paintings or statues when buying, as the fake versions of the artworks have minor differences from the genuine versions.