As Seen on Goodfellas: A Wise Guys Amateur Art Criticism [Video]

As Seen On explores the paintings and sculptures that have made it to the big and small screens—from a Bond villain’s heisted canvas to the Sopranos’ taste for Renaissance artworks. More than just set decor, these visual works play pivotal roles in on-screen narratives, when not stealing the show.

One of the most beloved works of American cinema, Martin Scorsese’s film Goodfellas (1990) is inspired by the story of American mobster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), an associate of the Lucchese crime family who turned FBI informant. The film depicts historic real-life events like the $420,000 Air France robbery in 1967 and the $875,000 Lufthansa heist in 1978.

Amid all the dramatic proceedings, a painting makes a brief appearance, and when it does, the audience gets the benefit of some amateur art criticism from two of the main characters.

In the midst of a central plot development, mobsters Hill, Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), …