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

Pietà Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from Juan de Valdés Leal's Pietà, painted around 1657 to 1660. It is a quiet range of dark browns, taupe and soft cream that suits a calm bedroom or a reading room.

Quick answer

Paint the walls #F5E5BD and use #CAB08D for the sofa or bed. Add #8A7157 as a wood tone and #998F7B in textiles.

Artist: Juan de Valdés Leal
Date: ca. 1657–60
Movement: 17th-century Spanish painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 79

Pietà by Juan de Valdés Leal — Juan de Valdés Leal, *Pietà*, ca. 1657–60. 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.

Soot Black

#292521 · 40.6% · LRV 2

Dark Cocoa

#513D2E · 32.2% · LRV 5

Aged Oak

#8A7157 · 11.5% · LRV 18

Soft Tan

#CAB08D · 6.6% · LRV 46

Muted Taupe

#998F7B · 5.8% · LRV 28

Pale Parchment

#F5E5BD · 3.4% · LRV 79

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.

Pietà reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Soot Black is strongest — Soot Black

Detail of the painting where Dark Cocoa is strongest — Dark Cocoa

Detail of the painting where Aged Oak is strongest — Aged Oak

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

Detail of the painting where Muted Taupe is strongest — Muted Taupe

Detail of the painting where Pale Parchment is strongest — Pale Parchment

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
Soot Black `#292521`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6258 Tricorn Black Close Behr 790B-7 Bitter Chocolate Similar Farrow & Ball No. 256 Pitch Black Similar Valspar 4011-2 Dark Kettle Black Similar	2	Small accents, art, accessories
Dark Cocoa `#513D2E`	Behr 760B-7 Revival Mahogany Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 9183 Dark Clove Close Valspar 2011-10 Cabin Plank Similar Farrow & Ball No. 36 Mahogany Similar	5	One bold piece
Aged Oak `#8A7157`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6145 Thatch Brown Very close Behr BXC-73 True Walnut Close Valspar 3002-9B Mocha Syrup Close Farrow & Ball No. 290 Salon Drab Similar	18	Wood and frames
Soft Tan `#CAB08D`	Behr PPU7-20 Raffia Ribbon Near-identical Sherwin-Williams SW 7697 Safari Near-identical Valspar 3004-10A Leatherbound Very close Farrow & Ball No. 16 Cord Similar	46	Bed, sofa, curtains
Muted Taupe `#998F7B`	Sherwin-Williams SW 2845 Bunglehouse Gray Near-identical Behr BXC-49 Smokey Tan Very close Valspar 6008-2B Sandalwood Very close Farrow & Ball No. 40 Mouse's Back Close	28	One small textile
Pale Parchment `#F5E5BD`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6686 Lemon Chiffon Near-identical Valspar 3006-6C Demure Yellow Near-identical Behr 350E-3 Oklahoma Wheat Very close Farrow & Ball No. 71 Pale Hound Very close	79	Main walls

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 parchment 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#D5CEB9

North light can make browns look flat, so #F5E5BD on the walls helps. Its LRV of 79 keeps the room bright.

South-facing room#F7E5BD

In strong light the pale cream may look nearly white. #CAB08D is an alternative wall color if you want more warmth.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#CCB58A

Under warm bulbs the taupe and tan merge into a soft, even glow. The dark browns act as shadows, not strong contrast.

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 Aged Oak and the rug border takes Muted Taupe in every combination.

Mood board

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

Pale Parchment

Soft Tan

Dark Cocoa

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

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

The Young Virgin Francisco de Zurbarán, ca. 1632–33

Man in Armour Antonio Puga, 17th century

Philip IV (1605–1665), King of Spain Velázquez (Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez), probably 1624

FAQ

What is the lightest color in this palette?

#F5E5BD, with an LRV of 79. It has a warm yellow undertone and works well on walls and ceilings.

How do I use the darkest colors?

Use #513D2E for a wood piece or a door, and keep #292521 for small details. Both have LRVs of 5 or less.

Does this palette suit a small room?

Yes, if the walls stay light. The mid-tones add depth without closing the space in.

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.