19th-century painting · art-to-room palette

Dorothea and Francesca Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette is built from warm sand, taupe, and deep brown tones, measured from a 1898 oil painting. It suits rooms that need warmth and calm, especially living rooms, dens, and bedrooms with little natural light.

Quick answer

Use the lightest tone, #DABEA0, on the walls. Put the mid-tone #908369 on large upholstered pieces or cabinetry, the deep #846750 on wood, the clay tan #AC8467 on textiles, and the very dark #4B453B on a single accent such as a door, trim, or built-in.

Artist: Cecilia Beaux
Date: 1898
Movement: 19th-century painting
Collection: The Art Institute of Chicago
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 54

Dorothea and Francesca by Cecilia Beaux — Cecilia Beaux, *Dorothea and Francesca*, 1898. The Art Institute of Chicago, open access. The bar shows each color's measured share of the canvas.

The 6 colors in this painting

Measured from the image and ordered by how much of the canvas they cover. LRV is how much light a color reflects, from 0 for black to 100 for white.

Soft warm wheat

#DABEA0 · 27.5% · LRV 54

Near-black charcoal

#363530 · 24.8% · LRV 4

Muted warm taupe

#908369 · 21.5% · LRV 23

Dark warm umber

#4B453B · 15.7% · LRV 6

Deep russet brown

#846750 · 9.2% · LRV 15

Warm clay tan

#AC8467 · 1.3% · LRV 26

Where each color lives in the painting

Left, every pixel of the canvas snapped to its nearest palette color. Right, the detail where each color is strongest.

Dorothea and Francesca reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Soft warm wheat is strongest — Soft warm wheat

Detail of the painting where Near-black charcoal is strongest — Near-black charcoal

Detail of the painting where Muted warm taupe is strongest — Muted warm taupe

Detail of the painting where Dark warm umber is strongest — Dark warm umber

Detail of the painting where Deep russet brown is strongest — Deep russet brown

Detail of the painting where Warm clay tan is strongest — Warm clay tan

Closest paint colors

The nearest color from each brand. “Near-identical” and “Very close” are hard to tell apart on a wall; with “Similar”, compare a sample with the painting. Brands with nothing close are left out.

Painting color	Closest paints	LRV	Use it for
Soft warm wheat `#DABEA0`	Behr PPU4-14 Renoir Bisque Near-identical Sherwin-Williams SW 2828 Colonial Revival Tan Very close Valspar 3002-10A Warm Buff Close Farrow & Ball No. 213 Savage Ground Close	54	Main walls
Near-black charcoal `#363530`	Behr N210-7 Havana Coffee Close Farrow & Ball No. 256 Pitch Black Close Sherwin-Williams SW 6994 Greenblack Close Valspar 4011-2 Dark Kettle Black Similar	4	Small accents, art, accessories
Muted warm taupe `#908369`	Sherwin-Williams SW 7737 Meadow Trail Near-identical Valspar 3007-9B Winter Delta Very close Behr 700D-5 Toffee Crunch Very close Farrow & Ball No. 40 Mouse's Back Close	23	Bed, sofa, curtains
Dark warm umber `#4B453B`	Sherwin-Williams SW 7675 Sealskin Very close Behr PPU5-01 Espresso Beans Close Valspar 6010-3 Olive Suede Close Farrow & Ball No. 255 Tanner's Brown Similar	6	One bold piece
Deep russet brown `#846750`	Valspar 3004-9A Muddy Mississippi Very close Behr N240-6 Wild Mustang Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 2806 Rookwood Brown Very close Farrow & Ball No. 290 Salon Drab Similar	15	Wood and frames
Warm clay tan `#AC8467`	Behr MQ2-2 Syrup Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 7715 Pottery Urn Very close Valspar 2007-7B Rustic Oak Very close Farrow & Ball No. 40 Mouse's Back Similar	26	One small textile

Paint names belong to their brands. Matches are measured from screen colors and are approximate; Light & Pigment is not affiliated with any paint brand.

How soft warm wheat looks in your light

The wall color shifted for the light it will live in. Check the version closest to your room before buying a sample.

North-facing room#C4B5A7

North light is cooler and softer, so the wall may look a little grayer than the swatch. The warm yellow undertone in this wheat tone helps it stay inviting. Check it on the wall before you commit.

South-facing room#E2C7A7

Strong south light makes this wall look brighter and more golden. Its LRV of 54 keeps it from glaring, though, so it stays light without feeling stark. The deep browns will read richer in this light.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#BD9E79

Under warm bulbs, the wall shifts toward honey and the room feels close and cozy. The russet and umber tones deepen further, which suits lamplit evenings. Keep the very dark accent to small areas so the room does not feel closed in.

Try the palette in a room

Pick which painting color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and light follow your choices.

Walls

Bed, sofa, island

Bold piece

Wood takes Deep russet brown and the rug border takes Warm clay tan in every combination.

Mood board

Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.

Soft warm wheat

Muted warm taupe

Dark warm umber

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Save this palette

A card with the painting, all 6 colors and a room scheme. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.

Save to Pinterest Download card

Guides that use colors from this painting

North Facing Bathroom Paint Colors: Warm Tans for Cool Light North-facing · Bathroom

Black Trim House Colors: Exterior Schemes That Work House exterior · Black

More palettes like this

The Herring Net Winslow Homer, 1885

A City Park William Merritt Chase, c. 1887

Interior of St. Mark's, Venice David Dalhoff Neal, 1869

FAQ

Can I paint every wall in the lightest color?

You can, but the wall color has an LRV of 54, which is light but not very bright. Painting all four walls in it will feel warm and calm. If the room is small or dim, consider using it on three walls and a deeper tone on one.

Where should I use the very dark color?

Use #4B453B in small amounts, such as an interior door, window trim, or a bookcase back. Its LRV of 6 is very dark, so a large area can make a room feel smaller. A single accent wall works best in a bright room.

How do I bring in the textile color without it looking flat?

Use #AC8467 on pillows, throws, or a rug, and mix it with the deeper russet of the wood tones. The warm red-orange undertone pairs well with the wood and the taupe upholstery. Adding one or two pieces in the darkest tone will give the scheme contrast.

Image: The Art Institute of Chicago, Public domain (CC0). Palette, posterized image, details and room views generated by Light & Pigment from that image. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.