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

The Net Mender (Garnbinderen) Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Christian Krohg's The Net Mender, painted in 1879 and held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nearly two thirds of the canvas is dark brown, which suits a snug study, a den or a kitchen with wood cabinets.

Quick answer

Paint the walls the pale cream #D9D4C4, use the mid brown #846A45 for the main furniture, and keep the near-black #413326 for a door, a shelf back or a small accent wall.

Artist: Christian Krohg
Date: 1879
Movement: 19th-century Scandinavian painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 66

The Net Mender (Garnbinderen) by Christian Krohg — Christian Krohg, *The Net Mender (Garnbinderen)*, 1879. 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.

Fisherman's Umber

#413326 · 41.7% · LRV 4

Tarred Wood Brown

#685339 · 22.3% · LRV 9

Rope Tan

#846A45 · 16.1% · LRV 16

Linen Cream

#D9D4C4 · 11.5% · LRV 66

Oxblood Brown

#663425 · 5.9% · LRV 5

Copper Clay

#B9713F · 2.5% · LRV 23

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.

The Net Mender (Garnbinderen) reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Fisherman's Umber is strongest — Fisherman's Umber

Detail of the painting where Tarred Wood Brown is strongest — Tarred Wood Brown

Detail of the painting where Rope Tan is strongest — Rope Tan

Detail of the painting where Linen Cream is strongest — Linen Cream

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

Detail of the painting where Copper Clay is strongest — Copper 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
Fisherman's Umber `#413326`	Sherwin-Williams SW 9183 Dark Clove Close Behr 760B-7 Revival Mahogany Close Farrow & Ball No. 256 Pitch Black Similar Valspar 6010-2 Deep Earth Similar	4	One bold piece
Tarred Wood Brown `#685339`	Sherwin-Williams SW 9115 Cowboy Boots Very close Behr N250-7 Mission Brown Very close Valspar 3011-8 Dark Earth Close Farrow & Ball No. 290 Salon Drab Similar	9	Wood and frames
Rope Tan `#846A45`	Behr N270-7 Library Oak Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6139 Mossy Gold Very close Valspar 3006-9A Grecian Helmet Close Farrow & Ball No. 290 Salon Drab Similar	16	Bed, sofa, curtains
Linen Cream `#D9D4C4`	Behr PPU8-15 Stonewashed Near-identical Farrow & Ball No. 201 Shaded White Very close Valspar 6008-1B Shoreline Haze Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6169 Sedate Gray Very close	66	Main walls
Oxblood Brown `#663425`	Sherwin-Williams SW 7593 Rustic Red Close Behr 240F-7 Root Beer Close Valspar 1010-5 Spanish Tile Similar	5	Small accents, art, accessories
Copper Clay `#B9713F`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6362 Tigereye Very close Behr PPU3-02 Marmalade Glaze Very close Valspar 3009-6 Orange Glaze Close	23	One small textile

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 linen 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#C3C4BE

The cream #D9D4C4 has an LRV of 66 and a warm yellow undertone, so it keeps a north-facing room from turning gray and still reflects most of the weak light.

South-facing room#E1D8C3

In strong south light the cream stays soft and buttery, and the deep browns on trim or furniture read as rich rather than heavy.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#BCAB8D

Under warm evening bulbs the cream turns golden and the dark #413326 almost disappears, which makes the room feel enclosed and calm.

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 Tarred Wood Brown and the rug border takes Copper Clay in every combination.

Mood board

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

Linen Cream

Rope Tan

Fisherman's Umber

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for The Net Mender (Garnbinderen)

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

More palettes like this

Study of Water and Plants Thomas Fearnley, 1837

Mother and Child by the Sea Johan Christian Dahl, 1830

Young Clergyman Reading Martinus Rørbye, 1836

FAQ

How much of this palette should be dark?

Dark browns cover most of the painting, but at home use them on about a third of the room at most. Keep the walls light and put the dark shades on furniture, doors and one feature wall.

What finish works for the deep brown #413326?

With an LRV of 4 it shows every flaw, so choose a matte or eggshell finish on smooth, well-primed walls. Satin suits a door or trim.

Which color adds warmth without more brown?

The copper clay #B9713F, with an LRV of 22, works well on a front door, a cushion or a small cabinet. It is the only bright note in this palette.

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.