North-facing room
#D4BC8AIn north light the pale gold #F2C773, at LRV 61, looks flatter and less golden, and the dark colors seem heavier.
19th-century French painting · art-to-room palette
Desdemona (The Song of the Willow) Color Palette & Paint Colors
Desdemona (The Song of the Willow) by Théodore Chassériau is mostly near-black brown, with small areas of tan and a glowing gold. It suits a dramatic bedroom or den used mainly in the evening.
Quick answer
Use the pale gold #F2C773 on a small wall and the tan #AE9E7B for the main furniture. Use #1D170E as an accent, #574023 for wood and #C8A565 for textiles.
- Artist
- Théodore Chassériau
- Date
- 1849
- Movement
- 19th-century French painting
- Collection
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 61
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.
Blackened Umber
Dark Roast Brown
Olive Taupe
Soft Tan Stone
Warm Straw Gold
Pale Candle Gold
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Blackened Umber#1D170E |
|
1 | One bold piece |
Dark Roast Brown#574023 |
|
6 | Wood and frames |
Olive Taupe#76684C |
|
14 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Soft Tan Stone#AE9E7B |
|
35 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Warm Straw Gold#C8A565 |
|
40 | One small textile |
Pale Candle Gold#F2C773 |
|
61 | Main walls |
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 pale candle gold 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.
South-facing room
#F5CE84In strong south light the gold is clear and warm, and it keeps the dark browns from feeling flat.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#CAA35FUnder warm evening bulbs the whole palette glows. The dark brown looks softer, and the golds look rich.
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.
Wood takes Dark Roast Brown and the rug border takes Warm Straw Gold in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Pale Candle Gold
Soft Tan Stone
Blackened Umber
Save this palette
A card with the painting, all 6 colors and a room scheme. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Guides that use colors from this painting
More palettes like this
FAQ
Can I use the near-black brown on walls?
It has an LRV of 1, so the room will feel small and dark. Choose it only for a room used at night or for a single wall.
What is the lightest color here?
The #F2C773 at LRV 61 is the lightest, and it is a warm gold rather than a white.
What goes best with the tan?
The tan #AE9E7B has an LRV of 35 and a warm yellow undertone. It sits between the dark browns and the gold, so it ties them together.
Image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 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.