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

Lucia Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette is drawn from one painting and runs from near-black shadow through warm browns and tans to a pale cream. It suits rooms that should feel warm, enclosed and settled, such as a study, dining room or bedroom.

Quick answer

Use the pale cream #FFE1C0 on the walls and the soft honey #D3B48A on larger surfaces. Bring in the deep brown #6A483B for an accent such as a door or built-in, the walnut tan #9E7559 for wood, and the clay #D1A086 for textiles like cushions or curtains.

Artist: Frederic, Lord Leighton
Date: possibly late 1870s
Movement: 19th-century British painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 79

Lucia by Frederic, Lord Leighton — Frederic, Lord Leighton, *Lucia*, possibly late 1870s. 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.

Deep charcoal shadow

#252523 · 47.4% · LRV 2

Burnt umber brown

#6A483B · 14.3% · LRV 8

Warm walnut tan

#9E7559 · 12.8% · LRV 21

Soft honey beige

#D3B48A · 12.7% · LRV 48

Pale apricot cream

#FFE1C0 · 7.4% · LRV 79

Muted terracotta clay

#D1A086 · 5.3% · LRV 40

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.

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

Detail of the painting where Deep charcoal shadow is strongest — Deep charcoal shadow

Detail of the painting where Burnt umber brown is strongest — Burnt umber brown

Detail of the painting where Warm walnut tan is strongest — Warm walnut tan

Detail of the painting where Soft honey beige is strongest — Soft honey beige

Detail of the painting where Pale apricot cream is strongest — Pale apricot cream

Detail of the painting where Muted terracotta clay is strongest — Muted 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
Deep charcoal shadow `#252523`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6258 Tricorn Black Close Behr 770F-7 Beluga Similar Farrow & Ball No. 256 Pitch Black Similar Valspar 4011-2 Dark Kettle Black Similar	2	Small accents, art, accessories
Burnt umber brown `#6A483B`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6062 Rugged Brown Very close Valspar 1005-9A Rich Chocolate Close Behr PPU3-19 Moroccan Henna Close Farrow & Ball No. 297 Preference Red Similar	8	One bold piece
Warm walnut tan `#9E7559`	Valspar 3002-7A Chestnut Beach Very close Behr PPU4-02 Coco Rum Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6095 Toasty Very close	21	Wood and frames
Soft honey beige `#D3B48A`	Valspar 3003-8A Young At Heart Near-identical Behr S290-4 Summerwood Near-identical Sherwin-Williams SW 6129 Restrained Gold Very close Farrow & Ball No. 16 Cord Similar	48	Bed, sofa, curtains
Pale apricot cream `#FFE1C0`	Behr 310C-2 Orange Glow Very close Valspar 2007-4B Champagne Orange Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6365 Cachet Cream Very close Farrow & Ball No. 67 Farrow's Cream Similar	79	Main walls
Muted terracotta clay `#D1A086`	Behr MQ1-30 Peachy Confection Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 69 Rose Tan Very close Valspar 2005-5C Ginger Bite Close Farrow & Ball No. 28 Dead Salmon Similar	40	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 pale apricot 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#DCCCBB

In north light the wall color #FFE1C0 looks cooler and quieter. Its light value of 79 still keeps the room bright, so it reads as a soft cream rather than a strong yellow.

South-facing room#FFE2C0

In strong south light the wall color #FFE1C0 looks brighter and warmer, and the room will feel open. Its warm undertone may look more golden at midday, so check a large sample before deciding.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#D2B28B

Under warm evening bulbs the wall color #FFE1C0 takes on a rich apricot glow and the room feels cozy. The darker browns and tans deepen, which suits a dining room or study after dark.

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 Warm walnut tan and the rug border takes Muted terracotta clay in every combination.

Mood board

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

Pale apricot cream

Soft honey beige

Burnt umber brown

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

Landscape (The Lock) John Constable, c. 1820–25

General Garibaldi's Residence at Caprera Frederick Richard Lee, 1865

Pallas Athena and the Herdsman's Dogs Briton Riviere, 1876

FAQ

Can I use the very dark shade #252523 on a whole wall?

It has a light reflectance value of 2, so it absorbs nearly all the light that reaches it. A whole wall in this shade will feel very dark and enclosed. Use it in small areas, such as a narrow feature wall or a piece of furniture, if you want that effect.

Which color should I paint the trim and ceiling?

Trim and ceilings usually work best in the lightest shade, #FFE1C0, or a close match. This keeps the room bright and lets the deeper colors on walls and furniture stand out.

How do I combine the wood and textile colors in one room?

Pair the walnut tan #9E7559 with the muted clay #D1A086 for a warm, layered look. Keep the brown #6A483B for one or two accents so the room does not become too dark.

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.