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

Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Eugène Delacroix's "Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion" (1849–50), held by The Art Institute of Chicago, and is built from deep browns, a muted sage green, and a clay terracotta. It suits rooms that want warmth and depth, such as a study, a library, or a dining room.

Quick answer

Use the pale wall color #C5DCD7 on the walls, walnut and espresso for wood and built-in pieces, and terracotta or oxblood for textiles and accents. Keep the sage tone for one or two surfaces so the room stays balanced.

Artist: Eugène Delacroix
Date: 1849–50
Movement: 19th-century French painting
Collection: The Art Institute of Chicago
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 68

Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion by Eugène Delacroix — Eugène Delacroix, *Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion*, 1849–50. 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.

Charred olive umber

#494132 · 35.2% · LRV 5

Espresso red-brown

#3F2C23 · 28.9% · LRV 3

Walnut brown

#6C513C · 23.2% · LRV 9

Muted sage teal

#7A8F8B · 8.4% · LRV 26

Brick oxblood

#793C30 · 2.5% · LRV 8

Terracotta clay

#B9644E · 1.7% · LRV 20

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.

Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Charred olive umber is strongest — Charred olive umber

Detail of the painting where Espresso red-brown is strongest — Espresso red-brown

Detail of the painting where Walnut brown is strongest — Walnut brown

Detail of the painting where Muted sage teal is strongest — Muted sage teal

Detail of the painting where Brick oxblood is strongest — Brick oxblood

Detail of the painting where Terracotta clay is strongest — Terracotta clay

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
Charred olive umber `#494132`	Behr S-H-710 Dried Leaf Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 7055 Enduring Bronze Close Valspar 6010-3 Olive Suede Similar Farrow & Ball No. 255 Tanner's Brown Similar	5	Small accents, art, accessories
Espresso red-brown `#3F2C23`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6076 Turkish Coffee Close Behr S-G-760 Chocolate Coco Close Valspar 1011-8 Antique Burgundy Similar Farrow & Ball No. 36 Mahogany Similar	3	One bold piece
Walnut brown `#6C513C`	Behr BXC-65 Outback Brown Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6146 Umber Very close Valspar 3011-8 Dark Earth Very close Farrow & Ball No. 290 Salon Drab Similar	9	Wood and frames
Muted sage teal `#7A8F8B`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6214 Underseas Very close Behr N460-5 Slate Rock Close Valspar 5002-4B Villa Blue Close Farrow & Ball No. 85 Oval Room Blue Similar	26	Main walls
Brick oxblood `#793C30`	Behr S180-7 True Copper Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 2839 Roycroft Copper Red Very close Valspar 1011-4 Posh Red Similar Farrow & Ball No. 43 Eating Room Red Similar	8	One small textile
Terracotta clay `#B9644E`	Valspar 2009-5 Fall Leaf Near-identical Behr HDC-FL13-3 Warm Cider Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6621 Emotional Close Farrow & Ball No. 268 Charlotte's Locks Similar	20	Bed, sofa, curtains

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

This painting has no light tone, so the wall color above is a lightened version of its palest color (#C5DCD7).

How the lightest tone 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#B6C9CA

In north light the pale wall color #C5DCD7 looks cooler and slightly greener, so the room feels calm and quiet. The warm browns and terracotta will look richer against it.

South-facing room#D2DED2

In strong south light the pale wall reads brighter and lighter, and the warm browns and terracotta glow. Dark tones will look less heavy, so this is the best light for the deepest colors.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#B1AF98

Under warm evening bulbs the pale wall takes on a soft yellow cast, and the sage tone can look greyer. The browns and oxblood deepen, so the room feels cozy.

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 Walnut brown and the rug border takes Brick oxblood in every combination.

Mood board

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

Muted sage teal

Terracotta clay

Espresso red-brown

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion

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

Earthy Tone Bedroom Colors, Measured From Paintings Earthy · Bedroom

More palettes like this

The Customs House at Varengeville Claude Monet, 1897

Springtime Théodore Rousseau, c. 1860

Landscape with a Cave Théodore Caruelle d'Aligny

FAQ

Can I paint a whole room in the darkest colors?

The darkest tones make up most of the original painting, but a full room in them can feel closed in. Use them on a door, cabinetry, or a single feature wall, and keep the rest of the room light.

Why is the wall color lighter than anything in the painting?

The painting has no light tone, so the wall color #C5DCD7 is a lightened version of its palest measured color. It is a guide for a light backdrop, not a color taken directly from the canvas.

How much of each color should I use?

Start with the pale wall color as the main surface. Add the walnut and espresso in smaller areas like trim, furniture, or shelves, and use terracotta and oxblood in textiles or small accents.

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.