Elena Rossi
Baldur's Gate is a role-playing video game by Larian Studios, based on a modified version of the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition tabletop RPG ruleset. In Baldur's Gate 3, players can collect paintings, which can be sold or used to solve puzzles. For example, in the Thorm Mausoleum puzzle, players must disarm traps and interact with three paintings adorning the walls of a tomb to progress. Players can also encounter a painter named Oskar Fevras, who is locked away in the Zhentarium Hideout. By freeing Oskar, players can receive a reward and experience an unusual quest involving Oskar's former lover, Kerri, and a quest item called the Torch of Revocation. While players can decorate their camps with paintings, there are challenges with vertical orientation, and currently, no camps allow players to hang paintings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Paintings in Baldur's Gate 3 | Can be used to solve puzzles |
| Thorm Mausoleum puzzle | Involves three paintings and a lot of traps |
| Paintings as decor | Can be used to decorate camps |
| Paintings as quest items | Can be used to free a character, summon spirits, or remove curses |
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What You'll Learn
Solving the Thorm Mausoleum puzzle
Step 1: Navigate the Traps
As you enter the Thorm Mausoleum, be cautious of the various traps littered throughout the area. These include trapped marble plates on the sides of the room and other hidden traps. It is recommended to either disarm the traps or split your party and control a single member to avoid triggering them. You can also use Baldur's Gate companion Astarion if you are less proficient with traps and lockpicking.
Step 2: Collect Hints (Optional)
Before proceeding with the puzzle, you can explore the side rooms and looting areas within the mausoleum. In these areas, you can find the Diaries of Malus Thorm and a book called the Stained Book. These tomes provide hints and background information related to the puzzle. The Stained Book, in particular, contains crucial information. It mentions Ketheric Thorm's instructions to access the mausoleum: "From splendour, to tragedy, to infamy."
Step 3: Interact with the Paintings
The Thorm Mausoleum puzzle involves three paintings that depict significant moments in Ketheric Thorm's life:
- Moonrise Towers: This painting represents the splendour of Moonrise Towers.
- Grieving Man: The second painting shows a grieving man next to a corpse, representing the grief and tragedy of Thorm's daughter's death.
- Man on a Throne: The final painting depicts a mighty king or a general sitting on a throne, representing Thorm's infamy as a General of the Absolute.
To solve the puzzle, press the buttons beneath each painting in the following order:
- Press the button below the painting of Moonrise Towers (usually on your left as you enter the tomb).
- Press the button below the painting of the grieving man (typically on your right as you enter).
- Press the button below the painting of the man on a throne, located on the back wall of the chamber.
Step 4: Proceed to the Gauntlet of Shar
If you have pressed the buttons in the correct order, the walls on either side of the final painting will draw back, revealing a secret passage. You can now safely proceed through the open doors and descend into the Gauntlet of Shar, a significant location in the game's story.
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Using paintings to open doors
In Baldur's Gate 3, players can encounter and interact with various paintings that can open doors, both literally and metaphorically, leading to new areas, quests, and story developments. One notable example is the "'Free the Artist' questline, where players can meet Oskar Fevras, a painter locked away in the Zhentarium Hideout. By paying for his freedom, players receive a quest item called the Torch of Revocation, which is essential for progressing in the quest and dealing with the supernatural elements surrounding Oskar's story.
The Torch of Revocation is used to remove the curse placed on Oskar and confront the spirit of his former lover, Kerri, who possesses him. Players must navigate through Lady Jannath's haunted estate, dealing with poltergeists and other challenges to reach the attic, where they can use the Torch of Revocation on Kerri's painting. This interaction opens a new door in the narrative, as Kerri's spirit emerges and relocates to Lady Jannath's room, initiating a conversation and potential resolution to the conflict.
Additionally, players can encounter a puzzle involving paintings in the Thorm Mausoleum. This puzzle includes three paintings adorning the walls of a tomb: one depicting Moonrise Towers, another showing a grieving man next to a corpse, and the last portraying a mighty king on a throne. To solve the puzzle, players must disarm traps and press buttons in a specific order, causing the paintings to glow blue and revealing a secret passage hidden behind the walls.
While some players choose to sell paintings they find in the game, others speculate about their potential use for decoration. However, as of Act 1, players cannot hang paintings in their camps, but the paintings remain accessible in their chests even after losing access to a particular camp. It is unclear if this option becomes available in later Acts of the game.
Overall, the paintings in Baldur's Gate 3 serve as more than just decorative pieces; they are key elements in quests, puzzles, and narrative progression, often leading players to new areas and providing opportunities for unique interactions and story developments.
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Burning a painting to remove a curse
While paintings may not be cursed, they can have attachments, such as spirits or negative entities, that can bring misfortune to their owners. One way to remove these negative influences is by burning the painting.
In the case of the urban legend of "The Crying Boy," copies of the painting were reportedly found undamaged in the ruins of burned houses, leading to widespread belief in the painting's curse. As a result, mass bonfires were organised for people to burn their copies of the painting.
Additionally, it is essential to take precautions to ensure the safe burning of the painting. This includes choosing a suitable location, such as an outdoor area away from flammable objects, and having a fire extinguisher or water source nearby to control the fire.
Before burning the painting, it is advisable to wrap it in a natural fibre, such as cotton, to contain the ashes and any negative energies that may be released during the burning process. It is also recommended to cleanse the space where the painting was previously kept to remove any residual negative influences.
While burning a painting may not scientifically remove a curse, it can be a symbolic act of releasing negative energy and reclaiming power over one's environment. The ritual of burning can provide a sense of closure and a fresh start, free from any perceived misfortune associated with the painting.
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Hanging paintings in camps
First, it's important to note that as of Act 1, no camps allow players to hang paintings. However, players can still decorate their camps with paintings, and these decorations will remain in place. If you lose access to a camp, any paintings you've placed there will be moved to your chest, so you don't have to worry about losing them.
Now, onto the actual hanging process. One issue that players have encountered is that the vertical orientation of paintings seems to be determined by the surface they are placed on, resulting in paintings being hung perpendicular to the wall or facing downward. A possible solution suggested by a player is to try placing the paintings on boxes, which may allow for more flexibility in positioning. Another player suggested using tables or display racks inside the tent to showcase unframed artwork.
If you're looking for a more secure hanging method, consider using screws. Art-installation professionals recommend drilling a pilot hole first to make the process easier and to avoid damaging your walls. Once the pilot hole is drilled, you can then drill the screw into the wall. This will provide a solid mount for your artwork and help prevent it from tilting.
For a clean and secure installation, you can use a French cleat. This method involves screwing one piece of the cleat into the wall with the beveled edge facing upward, and attaching the other piece to the back of your artwork with the beveled edge facing downward. Finally, slide the artwork into place, nesting the two cleats together.
When deciding on the placement of your paintings, it's recommended to start with one focal piece hung at eye level. You can then freestyle the placement of additional frames around it. Eye level should be at the middle of the painting when standing. However, you don't need to hang every piece of artwork at this height. Reserve this height for larger or more important pieces that you want to highlight.
Remember, hanging artwork is a great way to upgrade your living space, whether it's in a video game or in real life!
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Selling paintings
First, you'll need to acquire some paintings to sell. You can find paintings by exploring various locations in the game, such as tombs, mansions, and hideouts. Keep an eye out for puzzles or quests that may reward you with paintings upon completion. For example, in Act One, you can free a painter named Oskar Fevras from the Zhentarium Hideout by paying off his captor. He can be found again in Act Three in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate, and he may offer you paintings as a reward for your help.
Once you have a collection of paintings, you'll need to find a buyer. Art dealers and vendors can be found in Baldur's Gate, so keep an eye out for them as you explore the city. You can also try to decorate your camp with paintings, as some players have mentioned hanging paintings in their camps. This may attract the attention of potential buyers who are interested in acquiring art for their own spaces.
It's important to note that the orientation of paintings can be tricky in Baldur's Gate. Some players have reported issues with hanging paintings, as they may end up facing down or perpendicular to the wall. This may affect their value, so be sure to handle them with care and find a way to display them properly.
Finally, keep in mind that paintings can also be used to solve puzzles and progress in quests. For example, the Thorm Mausoleum puzzle involves three paintings and a series of traps. Disarming the traps and pressing buttons in the correct order will cause the paintings to glow blue and reveal a secret passage. So, while selling paintings can be profitable, don't overlook their potential utility in other aspects of the game.
With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to success in the art trade of Baldur's Gate!
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Frequently asked questions
The Thorm Mausoleum puzzle involves three paintings and a lot of traps. The paintings adorn the walls of a tomb at the back of the mausoleum. One shows Moonrise Towers, another a grieving man next to a corpse, and the last a mighty king sitting on a throne. You must first disarm the traps dotted around the tomb. If you don't, the room will be filled with thick black smoke and the gargoyle heads will shoot at you. Once you've disarmed the traps, press the buttons until all paintings glow blue and the walls on either side of the last painting will reveal a secret passage.
Players have reported selling the paintings they've found. However, some have wondered if there is something more useful or fun to do with them, such as using them to decorate a house.
"Free the Artist" is a side quest in Baldur's Gate 3. Players meet Oskar Fevras, a painter locked away in the Zhentarium Hideout in Act One. You can pay his captor to free him from enslavement. He will then ask the player for 200 gold of travelling money and tell them to come find him once they reach Baldur's Gate. Players will encounter Oskar again in Act 3.
The Torch of Revocation is a quest item that players can acquire by helping a certain character hiding in Baldur's Gate. It is used to remove the curse placed on Oskar by attacking Kerri's painting with it.
