ACNH Museum Gallery

ac_name name artist year medium location description authenticity real_image fake_image diff original_image source
Academic painting Vitruvian Man Leonardo da Vinci c. 1490 Pen, brown ink and watercolor over metalpoint on paper Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice This drawing is based on the "ideal" human-body ratio, as stated in "De architectura." "De architectura" was a treatise by Vitruvius, an architect from the early 1st century BCE. In the forgery, there is a coffee stain in the top right corner. The forgery also has a key taped to the back of the canvas. If there is no stain and key, it is genuine.
Amazing painting The Night Watch Rembrandt van Rijn 1642 Oil on canvas Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam This masterpiece, painted by 17th century Dutch artist Rembrandt, depicts a military gathering. At the time, portraits usually showed their subjects standing still. So this was a leap forward in technique. For many years, art scholars thought the painting was set at night, but a restoration revealed a dark varnish. We can now see the dynamic poses and lighting as they were meant to be seen—in the daytime! In the forgery, the man in the middle dressed in black is not wearing a hat. If the man does have a hat, it is genuine.
Basic painting The Blue Boy Thomas Gainsborough 1770 Oil on canvas Huntington Art Gallery, San Marino Gainsborough was known for his innovative use of colors in his traditional portraits, like this one. Although he preferred painting landscapes, his portraits would be the defining work of his career. In the forgery, the boy has a bowl haircut with long bangs. If he has shorter and wavier hair, it is genuine.
Calm painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte Georges Seurat c. 1884—1886 Oil on canvas Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Seurat, known as the founder of neo-impressionism, invented the use of brightly colored dots. His method, which does not involve mixing pigments, took time. This piece, for instance, took two years. It shows a crowd enjoying a day off at the river Seine in France. This painting is always genuine.
Common painting The Gleaners Jean-François Millet 1857 Oil on canvas Musée d'Orsay, Paris The signature piece from Millet, who was known for depicting the lives of commoners in the 19th century. Notice the abundant crops visible in the background relative to the meager wheat remaining for workers. This art served as social commentary in a time of great inequality. This painting is always genuine.
Detailed painting Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas Itō Jakuchū c. 1755 Hanging scroll; color and ink on silk Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles A detailed, colorful, and dynamic piece by Itō Jakuchū, a successful Kyoto artist in the mid-Edo period. High-quality paints on silk help it maintain its brilliant color even now, 200 years after its creation. In the forgery, the flowers are purple and no stamp and signature are on the left edge. If there are blue flowers and the stamp and signature are present, it is genuine.
Dynamic painting The Great Wave off Kanagawa Katsushika Hokusai 1831 Woodblock print; ink and color on paper The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York The signature piece of ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, painted as part of a series when he was in his 60s. Although it is dubbed "Thirty-Six Views," he eventually added 10 more to make 46 in total. Several museums throughout the world hold copies of The Great Wave, many of which came from 19th-century private collections of Japanese prints. Only about 100 prints, in varying conditions, are thought to have survived into the 21st century. This painting is always genuine.
Famous painting Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci 1503—1506, perhaps continuing until c.1517 Oil on poplar panel Louvre, Paris The world's most famous smile. It's said that da Vinci kept this painting for himself until the very end...Given its power to beguile visitors all these years later, it's easy to see why. In the forgery, the woman's eyebrows are raised. If her eyebrows are relaxed, it is genuine.
Flowery painting Sunflowers Vincent van Gogh 1888 Oil on canvas National Gallery, London Van Gogh painted this piece when he moved to the south of France in search of more vibrant colors. Yellow was Van Gogh's favorite color, and he made seven paintings that featured sunflowers during this time. This painting is always genuine.
Glowing painting The Fighting Temeraire Joseph Mallord William Turner 1839 Oil on canvas National Gallery, London A famous piece by Turner, a "master of light." It shows an English Navy ship commanded by Admiral Nelson as it's being tugged toward its dismantling. This painting is always genuine.
Graceful painting Beauty Looking Back Hishikawa Moronobu c. 1690 Hanging scroll; color and ink on silk Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo A hand-painted piece by Hishikawa Moronobu, an artist known for popularizing the ukiyo-e style. This stirring painting depicts a fashionable woman glancing back over her shoulder. In the forgery, the white collar around her neck is missing and she fills up the whole frame. The woman on the forged painting will also periodically look the wrong way. If she has a white collar and takes up less of the frame, it is genuine.
Jolly painting Summer Giuseppe Arcimboldo 1563 Oil on panel Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna A curious portrait by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, an Italian painter from the late 16th century. It doesn't take a particularly sharp eye to see that the entire portrait is composed of fresh produce. In the forgery, the artichoke in its torso is missing. If there is an artichoke in its torso, it is genuine.
Moody painting The Sower Jean-François Millet 1850 Oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Millet painted this piece of a farmer sowing wheat seeds in a field after moving to the countryside from Paris. If the piece reminds you of Van Gogh, that's likely because Van Gogh himself was inspired by it! This painting is always genuine.
Moving painting The Birth of Venus Sandro Botticelli c. 1484—1486 Tempera on canvas Uffizi, Florence A painting of the Roman goddess Venus riding a scallop shell after being born in the ocean. The name Botticelli is said to actually be a nickname given to the artist's brother, who was built like a barrel. Why this nickname was transferred between siblings is a mystery lost to the ages. In the forgery, the sky behind the right-hand woman is clearly visible and there are flowers floating about. If there are trees behind her, it is genuine.
Mysterious painting Isle of the Dead Arnold Böcklin 1883 Oil on panel Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin A small boat carrying a corpse glides quietly over a still sea to an island of graves surrounded by cliffs. The air of this piece by symbolist painter Böcklin is chilling, but also somehow calm. Böcklin worked here to capture not what he could see, but some of humanity's inner contemplations. Böcklin produced several other versions of this painting between 1880 and 1886, which today are exhibited in Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig; and Hermitage, Saint Petersburg. This painting is always genuine.
Nice painting The Fifer Édouard Manet 1866 Oil on canvas Musée d'Orsay, Paris One of Manet's earlier works, this painting depicts a young flautist dressed in military uniform. Manet's works are notable for their lack of linear perspective and strong color contrast. These attributes led some to call him "The Father of Impressionism" and make comparisons to Vélazquez. Fun fact-flautists can determine what note the boy is playing just by studying the painting closely. This painting is always genuine.
Perfect painting Still Life with Apples and Oranges Paul Cézanne c. 1899 Oil on canvas Musée d'Orsay, Paris This still life is known to have inspired the work of many other artists, including Pablo Picasso. Rather than trying to recreate an image, Cézanne captured the beauty of shapes from many angles. With this work, Cézanne draws on both the atmosphere of his subjects and the spirit of its beholders. This painting is always genuine.
Proper painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère Édouard Manet 1882 Oil on canvas Courtauld Gallery, London Close inspection of the mirror behind this painting's subject reveals many mysteries and paradoxes... In fact, the painting is based on multiple perspectives, which explains the unusual placement of some items. Sadly, this is Manet's last major work. He passed away a year after it was complete, at age 51. This painting is always genuine.
Quaint painting The Milkmaid Johannes Vermeer c. 1657—1658 Oil on canvas Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam This piece earned Vermeer the nickname "Master of Light" thanks to its exquisite contrast and depth. Vermeer painted this masterpiece at only 25 years of age. Many note that it is surprisingly small in real life. In the forgery, the liquid coming out of the vase is wide and vibrant. If the liquid pouring out of the vase is thin, it is genuine.
Scary painting Ōtani Oniji the 3rd as Yakko Edobei Tōshūsai Sharaku 1794 Woodblock print; ink, color, and white mica on paper The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York A print from the mid-Edo period by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicting a famous actor of the time. Sharaku made roughly 140 ukiyo-e prints in his career, even though it only spanned around 10 months! In the forgery, the man's eyebrows slant upwards and inwards and makes him look sad. Additionally, the man on the forged painting will periodically smile. If the eyebrows slant downwards and inwards to make him look angry, it is genuine.
Scenic painting The Hunters in the Snow Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1565 Oil on panel Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna A landscape artist from the late Renaissance period, Brueghel was known as the "Peasant Artist." He earned the title for depicting scenes from common peasant life, such as the moment captured here. Note the contrast between the weary hunters and the people frolicking below on icy ponds. In the forgery, there is only one hunter in the bottom left. If there are two hunters, it is genuine.
Serene painting Lady with an Ermine Leonardo da Vinci 1489—1491 Oil on walnut panel Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie, Krakow One of only four portraits of women painted by da Vinci, one of which is the "Mona Lisa." Some believe that the "ermine" is not actually an ermine, but rather a white ferret! In the forgery, the woman is holding a black and white patterned ermine. If she is holding a pure white ermine, it is genuine.
Sinking painting Ophelia John Everett Millais 1851—1852 Oil on canvas Tate Britain, London Ophelia is a tragic figure in the Shakespearean play "Hamlet." There is an otherworldly expression on her face as she lies unconscious in a river. She is surrounded by the beauty of nature as she floats between life and death. This painting is always genuine.
Solemn painting Las Meninas Diego Velázquez 1656 Oil on canvas Museo del Prado, Madrid This famous piece by Velázquez, who served the Spanish court, shows us something about perspective. It depicts a young princess with her "ladies-in-waiting." The artist himself is seen to the left. The king and queen are reflected in the mirror to the artist's right, so the perspective is that of the king. The king...watching the artist...paint the king and the queen... In the forgery, the man in the background has his right arm raised as if waving. If the arm goes behind the curtain, it is genuine.
Twinkling painting The Starry Night Vincent van Gogh 1889 Oil on canvas Museum of Modern Art, New York Van Gogh's signature piece, painted while he was hospitalized at an asylum. This view from his room includes memories and imaginations. In letters to friends, the artist called it a failure. This painting is always genuine.
Warm painting La maja vestida Francisco de Goya 1800—1805 Oil on canvas Museo del Prado, Madrid It is said that this painting is a more discreet version of an earlier work known as "The Nude Maja." It is also known that Francisco de Goya was quite popular in his own time. Could these facts be related? A third, unrelated fact-the word "maja" refers to a "stylish young lady of Madrid." This painting is always genuine.
Wild painting left half Wind God and Thunder God Tawaraya Sōtatsu c. 17th century Ink and color on gold-foiled paper Kennin-ji Temple, Kyoto This folding screen shows dynamic brushwork of Fūjin and Raijin on a gold-leaf background. It is thought to be the masterpiece of Tawaraya Sōtatsu, an early-Edo- period artist. The simplification of the subjects is a style that was carried on by Ogata Kōrin. It's a style still in use today in the Rinpa school of Japanese painting. This work is particularly prominent in the Rinpa school because two of its other major figures, Ogata Kōrin and Sakai Hōitsu, replicated the painting in homage. The original screens belong to the Zen Buddhist temple Kennin-ji in Kyoto, but are exhibited occasionally in the Kyoto National Museum. In the forgery, Raijin is green rather than white. If Raijin is colored white, it is genuine.
Wild painting right half Wind God and Thunder God Tawaraya Sōtatsu c. 17th century Ink and color on gold-foiled paper Kennin-ji Temple, Kyoto This folding screen shows dynamic brushwork of Fūjin and Raijin on a gold-leaf background. It is thought to be the masterpiece of Tawaraya Sōtatsu, an early-Edo- period artist. The simplification of the subjects is a style that was carried on by Ogata Kōrin. It's a style still in use today in the Rinpa school of Japanese painting. Despite being labeled a painting in-game, both screens are treated as statues in the game's code. In the forgery, Fūjin is white rather than green. If Fūjin is colored green, it is genuine.
Wistful painting Girl with a Pearl Earring Johannes Vermeer c. 1665 Oil on canvas Mauritshuis, The Hague Also known as "Girl with a Turban," this piece uses ultramarine paint, which was expensive at the time. It seems the expense was worth it, as the vivid blue colors draw the eye and help make the piece a classic. The only question is... Is that a real pearl earring? Or something else... In the forgery, the woman's earring is star-shaped. Additionally, the woman on the forged painting will periodically open and close her eyes. If the earring is rounded, it is genuine.
Worthy painting Liberty Leading the People Eugène Delacroix 1830 Oil on canvas Louvre, Paris Painted by leading 19th century Romantic artist Delacroix in the same year as a French revolution. The woman in the center is often mistaken for Joan of Arc, but she is actually the fictional "Marianne." This painting is always genuine.
Ancient statue Jomon Period "Dogū" Figurine Artist unknown c. 14,000—400 BCE Clay Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo A mysterious, riveting doll made from kneaded, unglazed dirt during the Jōmon period. Its large round eyes resemble goggles that intercept light, so its name should come as no surprise. "Shakōki" means "light-intercepting goggles," and a dogū is a small animal figurine. In the forgery, the statue has a pair of antennae on its head. Additionally, the forged statue's eyes will glow in the night, and it will float if interacted with as an ordinary piece of furniture. If the statue does not have a pair of antennae, it is genuine.
Beautiful statue Venus de Milo Alexandros of Antioch c. 160—110 BCE, discovered 1820 Parian marble Louvre, Paris A statue of the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus was found on the island of Milos. This beautiful sculpture makes many wonder what her original pose might have been. In the forgery, there are three necklaces around her neck. If there are no necklaces, it is genuine.
Familiar statue The Thinker Auguste Rodin 1904 Bronze Musée Rodin, Paris This bronze sculpture was crafted by the French sculptor Rodin, known as the father of modern sculpture. The incredibly famous original is located in France. The sculpture was casted over 20 times. As such, authentic pieces can be found all around the world. The first bronze casting was made in 1904, and is now exhibited at the Musée Rodin, in Paris. There are 27 other known full-sized bronze castings of the figure, though not all were made under Rodin's supervision. Various other versions, several in plaster, as well as studies and dozens of posthumous castings, exist in a range of sizes. This statue is always genuine.
Gallant statue David Michelangelo 1501—1504 Carrara marble Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence Young David glares at his enemies, sling slung over his shoulder. It took Michelangelo more than three years to sculpt this piece. Close inspection shows heart-shaped eyes, but that's probably meant to depict light hitting them. Hearts didn't have the lovey-dovey symbolism back then that they do today. In the forgery, David is shown holding a book between his arm and waist. If David does not have a book, it is genuine.
Great statue Kamehameha I Thomas Ridgeway Gould 1880 Bronze Ali'iolani Hale, Honolulu A bronze sculpture of King Kamehameha I, who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. Traditionally, the sculpture is draped with many leis every year on June 11th. This statue is always genuine.
Informative statue Rosetta Stone Artist unknown 196 BCE, discovered 1799 Granodiorite stele British Museum, London A stone slab found in Rosetta, Egypt in 1799. Helped efforts to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Almost identical text is written in hieroglyphs at the top, then Demotic script, and lastly Greek script. In the forgery, the Rosetta Stone is colored blue and glows in the night. If the Rosetta Stone is colored in dull gray, it is genuine.
Motherly statue Capitoline Wolf Unknown (wolf), Antonio del Pollaiuolo (twins) c. 5th century BCE Bronze Capitoline Museums, Rome This wolf from Roman mythology raises a pair of twins, along with some controversy. The original bronze sculpture of the wolf is a masterpiece that dates back to 5th century BCE. The twins were added during the 15th century...or so it was thought. Recent research has given rise to speculation that the original piece may be from the 11th or 12th century. (We will, however, stick with the 5th century BCE estimate for now.) In the forgery, there is a tongue hanging out of the she-wolf's mouth. If there is no tongue, it is genuine.
Mystic statue Bust of Nefertiti Thutmose c. 1345 BCE, discovered 1912 Limestone and stucco Neues Museum, Berlin A bust of Nefertiti, whose name means "the beautiful one has come." A "royal wife," she was known as one of the three most beautiful women in ancient Egypt. It is not known whether the left eye is missing because it fell out, or because it was never completed. In the forgery, there is an earring on Nefertiti's right ear. If there is no earring, it is genuine.
Robust statue Discobolus Artist unknown c. 460—450 BCE, discovered 1781 Bronze Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome This ancient Roman statue is based on the ancient Greek statue crafted by Myron. It's a piece that shows the grandeur of the human body, beautiful from any angle. In the forgery, there is a wrist watch on his right wrist. If there is no watch, it is genuine.
Rock-head statue Olmec colossal heads Artist unknown c. 1000 BCE, discovered 1945 Basalt Museo de Antropología de Xalapa, Xalapa Giant stone head thought to be from the ancient Mesoamerican Olmec civilization. The larger ones can reach three meters in height. Scholars think they only crafted heads, no bodies. San Lorenzo Colossal Head 1 was lying facing upwards when excavated. The erosion of a path passing on top of the monument uncovered its eye and led to the discovery of the Olmec site. In the forgery, the statue's lips are slightly curled into a smile. If the lips are more neutral, it is genuine.
Tremendous statue Houmuwu ding Artist unknown c. 1200 BCE, discovered 1939 Bronze National Museum of China, Beijing This bronze ding from ancient China is the largest and heaviest ever found. The script on the inside suggests it was created to honor the king's mother. In the forgery, there is a lid on the statue. If the top is open, it is genuine.
Valiant statue Winged Victory of Samothrace Artist unknown c. 200—190 BCE, discovered 1863 Parian marble Louvre, Paris A statue of the goddess of victory, Nike, found on Samothrace. It shows Nike alighting on the prow of a ship. Originally found in separate pieces, it has largely been restored, but the arms and head are still missing. In the forgery, the statue is mirrored, having its left leg in front and a seemingly smaller right wing. If its right leg in front and its left wing appears smaller, it is genuine.
Warrior statue Terracotta Army Artist unknown 210—209 BC, discovered 1974 Terracotta Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, Xi'an These terracotta warriors were buried with the first Qin emperor to protect him in the afterlife. Nearly 2,000 years later, in 1974, about 8,000 of them were found. Each life-sized statue is said to have been handmade with different poses, expressions, and clothing. In the forgery, the man is holding a shovel. If there is no shovel, it is genuine.