15th-century Italian painting · art-to-room palette

Madonna and Child with the Donor, Pietro de' Lardi, Presented by Saint Nicholas Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Master G.Z.'s tempera and gold panel, Madonna and Child with the Donor, Pietro de' Lardi, Presented by Saint Nicholas, held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is built on warm sand, ochre, terracotta and brick tones, with a few very dark shades for depth.

Quick answer

Use the pale sand tone on the walls and the ochre for large furniture or cabinetry. Add the terracotta to textiles, and keep the brick red for small accents like cushions or ceramics.

Artist: Master G.Z. (possibly Michele dai Carri, Italian, Ferrara, active by 1405–died 1441 Ferrara)
Date: ca. 1420–30
Movement: 15th-century Italian painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 54

Madonna and Child with the Donor, Pietro de' Lardi, Presented by Saint Nicholas by Master G.Z. (possibly Michele dai Carri, Italian, Ferrara, active by 1405–died 1441 Ferrara) — Master G.Z. (possibly Michele dai Carri, Italian, Ferrara, active by 1405–died 1441 Ferrara), *Madonna and Child with the Donor, Pietro de' Lardi, Presented by Saint Nicholas*, ca. 1420–30. 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.

Near-black violet

#15141C · 25.7% · LRV 1

Pale warm sand

#D7C09A · 22.6% · LRV 55

Deep walnut brown

#8D5D2D · 19.9% · LRV 14

Terracotta clay

#C87F59 · 13.9% · LRV 28

Warm ochre gold

#CF9D48 · 10.1% · LRV 38

Brick red

#B23C20 · 7.9% · LRV 13

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.

Madonna and Child with the Donor, Pietro de' Lardi, Presented by Saint Nicholas reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Near-black violet is strongest — Near-black violet

Detail of the painting where Pale warm sand is strongest — Pale warm sand

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

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

Detail of the painting where Warm ochre gold is strongest — Warm ochre gold

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

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
Near-black violet `#15141C`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6258 Tricorn Black Similar	1	Small accents, art, accessories
Pale warm sand `#D7C09A`	Behr UL160-7 Pale Wheat Very close Farrow & Ball No. 16 Cord Very close Valspar 3005-10A Sandy Cove Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6135 Ecru Very close	55	Main walls
Deep walnut brown `#8D5D2D`	Behr S250-6 Desert Clay Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6118 Leather Bound Close Valspar 3011-5 Autumn Surprise Similar	14	Small accents, art, accessories
Terracotta clay `#C87F59`	Sherwin-Williams SW 7707 Copper Wire Very close Valspar 2004-5B Clove Bud Very close Behr 240D-5 Grounded Close Farrow & Ball No. 64 Red Earth Similar	28	One small textile
Warm ochre gold `#CF9D48`	Behr M280-6 Solid Gold Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6395 Alchemy Very close Farrow & Ball No. 66 India Yellow Close Valspar 3003-3A Amber Wheat Close	38	Bed, sofa, curtains
Brick red `#B23C20`	Behr S-H-220 Summer Heat Close Sherwin-Williams SW 6622 Hearty Orange Close Valspar 2011-5 Crimson Glow Similar Farrow & Ball No. 212 Blazer Similar	13	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 pale warm sand 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#C2B7A3

In north light, the sand wall reads softer and a little cooler. Its warm yellow undertone can look flatter, so pair it with warmer textiles to keep the room inviting.

South-facing room#E0C8A2

Strong south light brings out the warm yellow in the sand wall and can make it look bright and creamy. The ochre and terracotta will look richer, so use them in moderation to avoid a heavy effect.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#BB9F76

Under warm evening bulbs, the sand wall leans toward gold and the walnut and brick tones deepen. This is a good setting for the darker accents, which will look more settled.

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 Terracotta clay in every combination.

Mood board

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

Pale warm sand

Warm ochre gold

Brick red

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Madonna and Child with the Donor, Pietro de' Lardi, Presented by Saint Nicholas

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

Boho Bedroom Colors Boho style

More palettes like this

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A Hunting Scene Piero di Cosimo (Piero di Lorenzo di Piero d'Antonio), ca. 1494–1500

Madonna and Child with Two Angels Botticelli

FAQ

Can I paint a whole room in the pale sand color?

Yes, the sand tone has a light reflectance value of 54, so it reads light and bounces light around the room. Balance it with the darker walnut and brick tones in furniture or accents so the room does not feel flat.

Where should I use the near-black violet?

Use it in small amounts, such as a single piece of furniture, a door or trim. Its reflectance value is 1, so it absorbs most light and can make a room feel very deep if used across large areas.

How do I keep a small room from feeling heavy with these colors?

Keep the walls in the pale sand tone and limit the dark shades to one or two surfaces. Add the terracotta and ochre through textiles and small objects, which adds warmth without crowding the space.

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.