17th-century Flemish painting · art-to-room palette

Robert Rich (1587–1658), Second Earl of Warwick Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Anthony van Dyck's portrait of Robert Rich, Second Earl of Warwick, and it is built on deep browns, rust and clay with one warm tan. It suits rooms where you want warmth and depth, such as a study, library, dining room or den.

Quick answer

Use the warm tan #BCA278 as the wall tone, lightened to #EED4AD for a whole room. Anchor the room with the deep espresso #372619 and walnut #72502E in furniture, trim or floors, and bring in the burnt clay #B15D32 and rust #894627 through textiles, art or accessories.

Artist: Anthony van Dyck
Date: ca. 1632–35
Movement: 17th-century Flemish painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 68

Robert Rich (1587–1658), Second Earl of Warwick by Anthony van Dyck — Anthony van Dyck, *Robert Rich (1587–1658), Second Earl of Warwick*, ca. 1632–35. 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.

Dark Espresso Brown

#372619 · 52.6% · LRV 2

Deep Walnut Brown

#72502E · 17.7% · LRV 10

Muted Wheat Tan

#BCA278 · 13.7% · LRV 38

Burnt Sienna Clay

#B15D32 · 7.6% · LRV 17

Rust Brown

#894627 · 6% · LRV 10

Soft Terracotta Orange

#D57F4D · 2.4% · LRV 30

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.

Robert Rich (1587–1658), Second Earl of Warwick reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Dark Espresso Brown is strongest — Dark Espresso Brown

Detail of the painting where Deep Walnut Brown is strongest — Deep Walnut Brown

Detail of the painting where Muted Wheat Tan is strongest — Muted Wheat Tan

Detail of the painting where Burnt Sienna Clay is strongest — Burnt Sienna Clay

Detail of the painting where Rust Brown is strongest — Rust Brown

Detail of the painting where Soft Terracotta Orange is strongest — Soft Terracotta Orange

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
Dark Espresso Brown `#372619`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6069 French Roast Similar Behr 780B-7 Bison Brown Similar	2	Small accents, art, accessories
Deep Walnut Brown `#72502E`	Sherwin-Williams SW 9099 Saddle Up Very close Behr 260F-7 Caramel Latte Close Valspar 3011-8 Dark Earth Similar	10	Wood and frames
Muted Wheat Tan `#BCA278`	Behr N270-4 Oxford Street Near-identical Valspar 3006-9C Glowing Dune Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 9118 Tarnished Treasure Very close Farrow & Ball No. 6 London Stone Similar	38	Main walls
Burnt Sienna Clay `#B15D32`	Sherwin-Williams SW 7703 Earthen Jug Very close Behr 260D-7 Copper Mountain Close Valspar 3009-6 Orange Glaze Close Farrow & Ball No. 268 Charlotte's Locks Similar	17	One bold piece
Rust Brown `#894627`	Behr 240D-7 Chestnut Stallion Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 8 Cajun Red Close Valspar 2010-6 Burnt Caramel Similar	10	One small textile
Soft Terracotta Orange `#D57F4D`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6634 Copper Harbor Very close Behr M220-6 Pumpkin Puree Very close Valspar 2008-5B Patio Stone Close Farrow & Ball No. 64 Red Earth Similar	30	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 (#EED4AD).

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#D1C4AF

North light is cool and dim, so the wall color #EED4AD can look a little greyer and flatter than it does in the store. Pair it with warm wood and lamps to keep it from feeling cold.

South-facing room#F2D8B1

Strong south light brings out the warm yellow in #EED4AD, so the wall can look creamy and bright. Keep the darker browns in place to add contrast, or the room may feel washed out by midday.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#C9AB81

Warm evening bulbs deepen the tan and make the wall look golden and close. The browns and clay tones glow in this light, so it is a good palette for rooms used mostly at night.

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 Walnut Brown and the rug border takes Rust Brown in every combination.

Mood board

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

Muted Wheat Tan

Soft Terracotta Orange

Burnt Sienna Clay

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Robert Rich (1587–1658), Second Earl of Warwick

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

Rust Color Paint: Terracotta Shades for Interior Walls Terracotta

More palettes like this

Rubens, Helena Fourment (1614–1673), and Their Son Frans (1633–1678) Peter Paul Rubens, ca. 1635

The Dead Christ in the Tomb with Two Angels Abraham Janssen van Nuyssen, ca. 1610

A Partridge and Small Game Birds Jan Fyt, 1650s

FAQ

Is the wall color the same as one in the painting?

No. The wall color #EED4AD is a lightened version of the palest tone in the painting, because the painting has no light tone. The measured wall tone is the muted tan #BCA278.

Can I use only the darkest colors in a room?

You can, but a room with only the deepest browns, such as #372619 at LRV 2, can feel heavy. Add the lighter tan wall or the soft terracotta to balance it.

How do I start with this palette at home?

Start with the wall color, then add one or two of the deeper browns in wood or upholstery. Use the burnt clay and rust for a few accents, such as a rug, cushions or a lamp base.

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.