North-facing room
#CEC0BAIn north light, #EACFBE stays soft and does not turn gray. Its warm red-orange undertone helps the room feel less cool.
15th-century Italian painting · art-to-room palette
The Birth of the Virgin Color Palette & Paint Colors
This palette comes from Fra Carnevale's 1467 painting "The Birth of the Virgin," held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It runs from pale warm stone to deep blue and red-brown, so it suits rooms that want warmth with a few strong dark notes.
Quick answer
Put the lightest warm tone, #EACFBE, on the walls. Use #C8BAB2 for large built-in or main surfaces, #254369 for a textile such as a sofa or rug, and #1860A9 as a small accent on pillows, trim, or a single chair.
- Date
- 1467
- Movement
- 15th-century Italian painting
- Collection
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 66
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.
Pale warm stone
Soft clay taupe
Blush linen beige
Deep plum brown
Midnight navy blue
Bright cobalt blue
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Pale warm stone#C8BAB2 |
|
51 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Soft clay taupe#A69388 |
|
31 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Blush linen beige#EACFBE |
|
66 | Main walls |
Deep plum brown#633135 |
|
5 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Midnight navy blue#254369 |
|
5 | One small textile |
Bright cobalt blue#1860A9 |
|
11 | One bold piece |
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 blush linen beige 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
#EFD4BEIn strong south light, #EACFBE reads brighter and warmer. Test a sample on the wall first, since the sun can push the red-orange undertone forward.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#C6A88AUnder warm evening bulbs, #EACFBE looks rosy and cozy. The deeper blues in the palette will look richer after dark.
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 a warm mid-brown and the rug border takes Midnight navy blue in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Blush linen beige
Pale warm stone
Bright cobalt blue
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
Which color should I paint the whole room?
Use #EACFBE on the walls, since it has an LRV of 66 and bounces light well. Keep the deeper colors for furniture, textiles, and small accents so the room does not feel heavy.
Can I use the two blues together?
Yes, but use #254369 for larger pieces and #1860A9 for small touches. The navy is very dark with an LRV of 5, while the cobalt is deep with an LRV of 11, so they look best in different amounts.
Will these colors work in a small or dark room?
The light wall color, #EACFBE, is the best choice for a small or dim room. Add the darker tones in limited amounts so the space does not close in.
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.