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

Portrait of a Woman in Gray Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette is a warm set of browns, tans and apricots, running from a near-black oxblood to a pale peach. Every color carries the same red-orange undertone, so the room feels settled and low in contrast, which suits living rooms and bedrooms.

Quick answer

Paint the walls in the soft almond cream and use the warm taupe clay for large pieces such as a sofa or rug. Add burnt apricot tan through textiles, russet cinnamon on one accent piece, and keep the deep oxblood brown for small touches.

Artist: Edgar Degas
Date: ca. 1865
Movement: 19th-century French painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 64

Portrait of a Woman in Gray by Edgar Degas — Edgar Degas, *Portrait of a Woman in Gray*, ca. 1865. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 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.

Deep oxblood brown

#522729 · 27.9% · LRV 3

Burnt apricot tan

#D28F55 · 20.3% · LRV 34

Warm taupe clay

#B89C85 · 19.8% · LRV 36

Russet cinnamon brown

#A26B40 · 16.8% · LRV 19

Soft almond cream

#EACCB2 · 13% · LRV 64

Pale peach blush

#FFC095 · 2.1% · LRV 61

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.

Portrait of a Woman in Gray reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

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

Detail of the painting where Burnt apricot tan is strongest — Burnt apricot tan

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

Detail of the painting where Russet cinnamon brown is strongest — Russet cinnamon brown

Detail of the painting where Soft almond cream is strongest — Soft almond cream

Detail of the painting where Pale peach blush is strongest — Pale peach blush

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
Deep oxblood brown `#522729`	Sherwin-Williams SW 2801 Rookwood Dark Red Close Behr BXC-69 Cimarron Close Valspar 1010-5 Spanish Tile Similar Farrow & Ball No. 222 Brinjal Similar	3	Small accents, art, accessories
Burnt apricot tan `#D28F55`	Valspar 3001-3A Hazelnut Coffee Very close Behr 280D-5 Glazed Pecan Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6656 Serape Very close Farrow & Ball No. 66 India Yellow Similar	34	One small textile
Warm taupe clay `#B89C85`	Behr MQ2-41 Cavern Clay Very close Valspar 3001-9C Changing Seasons Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6094 Sensational Sand Very close Farrow & Ball No. 28 Dead Salmon Close	36	Bed, sofa, curtains
Russet cinnamon brown `#A26B40`	Behr MQ4-5 Castellina Very close Valspar 3011-5 Autumn Surprise Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 7710 Brandywine Close	19	One bold piece
Soft almond cream `#EACCB2`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6351 Sweet Orange Near-identical Behr 270E-2 Sandpoint Near-identical Valspar 2007-6B Peachy Confection Very close Farrow & Ball No. 231 Setting Plaster Close	64	Main walls
Pale peach blush `#FFC095`	Behr P230-4 Citrus Punch Near-identical Valspar 2006-4A Peach Taffy Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 9007 Melón Meloso Close Farrow & Ball No. 231 Setting Plaster Similar	61	Small accents, art, accessories

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 almond cream 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#CEBEB2

In north light the almond cream wall looks softer and slightly cooler. The warm undertone keeps it from going gray or flat.

South-facing room#EFD2B5

In strong south light the almond cream wall looks brighter and creamier. It reflects a lot of light, so it can feel lively in a sunny room.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#C6A683

Under warm evening bulbs the almond cream wall shifts toward peach and apricot. The taupe and russet pieces deepen, so the room feels richer and more enclosed.

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 a warm mid-brown and the rug border takes Burnt apricot tan in every combination.

Mood board

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

Soft almond cream

Warm taupe clay

Russet cinnamon brown

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Portrait of a Woman in Gray

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

Victorian Living Room Colors Victorian style

Pro Classic Paint Colors for a Traditional Interior Traditional style

Maroon Color Paint: Burgundy Shades for Interior Walls Burgundy

Modern Exterior House Colors and Color Schemes House exterior · Modern

More palettes like this

The Flood Gate Emile van Marcke

On the Road Jules Dupré, 1856

A River Landscape with Storks Charles-François Daubigny, 1864

FAQ

Can I use the wall color in a small room with little natural light?

Yes, but check it in the room first. The soft almond cream has a light reflectance value of 64, so it bounces light well. In a dim north-facing room it may look a little muted, so pair it with warmer lamps.

Should I paint a whole room in the darkest color?

Usually not. The oxblood brown has a light reflectance value of 3, so it absorbs most light and can make a room feel closed in. Use it on a door, a built-in, or a small accent wall if you want depth.

Can I use only one or two of these colors?

Yes. The almond cream on the walls and the taupe clay on larger furniture make a calm base on their own. Add the burnt apricot tan or russet cinnamon through pillows, a throw, or a single chair to bring in warmth.

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.