Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Serene Painting is based on an artwork by Leonardo da Vinci called Lady with an Ermine. One of just four portraits that da Vinci ever painted of a woman, Lady with an Ermine is currently located at the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, and players that are trying to determine the authenticity of a Serene Painting in ACNH will need to look at the animal in the woman’s arms.
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In particular, if the woman in ACNH’s Serene Painting is holding a grey ermine then it is fake. On the other hand, if she is holding a white ermine it is a legitimate Serene Painting, and players can happily purchase it for Blathers and his museum. Here is an image that highlights the difference between a fake and real Serene Painting in Animal Crossing: New Horizons for fans that would like a visual reference:
Of course, Redd will not only try to pawn forged paintings off on players, as he has a number of fake sculptures in his inventory as well. As such, ACNH fans should proceed with caution regardless of the type of artwork that they are buying from Jolly Redd’s Treasure Trawler, lest they end up trading their hard-earned Bells for a fake.
That said, players should not be too upset if they ultimately end up purchasing a forgery from Redd, as these fakes can still be placed around a fan’s island or in their homes. While this type of display will not get a player any closer to completing the exhibition at the museum art gallery in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it at least means that their Bells have not been completely wasted.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is out now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
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