The Met
Start with Tip 1 and keep going until you get the guidance you’re looking for. Tips 1-18 cover how to place the paintings. Tips 19-22 cover what do once you've placed the paintings.
Tip 1
Tip 1
To solve this puzzle, you'll need the card with 8 punch-outs of paintings, the post-it note attached to that card, and the pages in the booklet with 8 frames on a wall. Follow the clues on the post-it note to arrange the paintings.
Tip 2
Tip 2
The first clue says that paintings 1 and 5 depict a woman draped in blue.
There are two paintings that meet this description: Young Woman with Ibis and The Virgin Adoring the Host.
While you don't know which painting goes in which frame, you can place both paintings to the far left.
Tip 3
Tip 3
The second clue on the post-it says that the top row shows six figures in total. How can you use this information to determine which painting goes in Frame 1 and which goes in Frame 5?
Tip 4
Tip 4
Across the remaining paintings, there are 4 total figures. What does this tell you?
Tip 5
Tip 5
This means that The Virgin Adoring the Host must go in Frame 1.
Even if every other painting with figures were in the top row, you'd have 4 figures. To get to 6 figures, you need a painting with at least 2 more figures. Only The Virgin Adoring the Host meets this criterion.
Place The Virgin Adoring the Host in Frame 1 andYoung Woman with Ibis in Frame 5.
Tip 6
Tip 6
The third clue on the post-it says that painting 6 uses thick, visible brush strokes throughout. Which painting is painted in this style?
Tip 7
Tip 7
Cypresses is the only painting with visible brush strokes. Place it in Frame 6.
Tip 8
Tip 8
The fourth clue says that only one painting by Van Gogh hangs in the top row. What can you conclude?
Tip 9
Tip 9
Since Cypresses (by Van Gogh) is in the bottom row, then Shoes (by Van Gogh) must be in the top row. While you don't know which frame, you can place this painting near the top row for now.
Tip 10
Tip 10
The fifth clue on the post-it says that two still life paintings are on top of each other. Still life paintings show non-living things. What can you conclude from this clue?
Tip 11
Tip 11
The only still life paintings are Shoes and Still Life with Grapes. Since we know that Shoes must be in the top row, then Grapes must be directly beneath it in the bottom row.
Since Frames 1, 5, and 6 are taken, Shoes and Still Life with Grapes must be in Frames 3 and 7 or Frames 4 and 8.
Place Shoes near frames 3 and 4 and place Still Life with Grapes near frames 7 and 8.
Tip 12
Tip 12
The sixth clue says that no paintings in the top row feature trees. What can you conclude from this?
Tip 13
Tip 13
Of the remaining paintings, only Elizabeth Farren has trees. This painting must be in the bottom row, which meaans that Two Young Girls at the Piano and Lucas van Uffel must both be in the top row.
Tip 14
Tip 14
The seventh clue says that a painting with a globe is directly to the right of a painting with a crown. Look very closely at the paintings, particularly the ones in the top row. Some of the details are a little hard to see.
Tip 15
Tip 15
In The Virgin Adoring the Host, the woman on the left wears a crown. And, in Lucas van Uffel, there's a globe on the table.
This means that Lucas van Uffel must be in Frame 2.
Tip 16
Tip 16
The last clue says that all paintings in corner spots show people. What can you conclude?
Tip 17
Tip 17
Two Young Girls at the Piano and Elizabeth Farren must both be in corner spots (Frames 4 and 8 respectively).
This means that Shoes and Still Life with Grapes must be in the only remaining frames (3 and 7 respectively).
Tip 18
Tip 18
The final placements are:
- The Virgin Adoring the Host
- Lucas van Uffel
- Shoes
- Two Young Girls at the Piano
- Young Woman with Ibis
- Cypresses
- Still Life with Grapes
- Elizabeth Farren
What might you do next? Have you noticed anything about the backs of the paintings and the frames?
Tip 19
Tip 19
Each frame has an arrow (or two). How might you use these arrows?
Tip 20
Tip 20
Each arrow points to a corner of the frame...
Tip 21
Tip 21
Heads up: the next tip will reveal the solution.
Tip 22
Tip 22
We get the following letters from each frame:
- U (Frame 1, top left corner)
- N (Frame 2, bottom left corner)
- D (Frame 2, top left corner)
- E (Frame 3, top right corner)
- R (Frame 4, bottom left corner)
- N (Frame 5, bottom left corner)
- E (Frame 6, bottom left corner)
- A (Frame 7, top left corner)
- T (Frame 7, bottom right corner)
- H (Frame 8, top left corner)
Add the word "underneath" to your itinerary card.


