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

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette is measured from a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte by a French painter. It is mostly very dark brown, with warm tan and a bright cream for contrast, and it suits a study or formal dining room.

Quick answer

Use the pale cream #FFD8AE on the walls and #CDAD8D for the main furniture. Keep #9D8258 for wood and the dark browns for small accents.

Artist: French Painter
Movement: 19th-century French painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 73

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) by French Painter — French Painter, *Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821)*. 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 Sepia

#261E18 · 56.8% · LRV 1

Dark Chestnut

#382D21 · 20.2% · LRV 3

Smoky Brown

#4D3C29 · 13.2% · LRV 5

Antique Bronze

#9D8258 · 5.6% · LRV 24

Warm Sand

#CDAD8D · 2.5% · LRV 45

Pale Apricot

#FFD8AE · 1.6% · LRV 73

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.

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Deep Sepia is strongest — Deep Sepia

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

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

Detail of the painting where Antique Bronze is strongest — Antique Bronze

Detail of the painting where Warm Sand is strongest — Warm Sand

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

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 Sepia `#261E18`	Behr 790B-7 Bitter Chocolate Similar Sherwin-Williams SW 6990 Caviar Similar Farrow & Ball No. 256 Pitch Black Similar	1	Small accents, art, accessories
Dark Chestnut `#382D21`	Behr 780B-7 Bison Brown Similar Sherwin-Williams SW 9183 Dark Clove Similar Farrow & Ball No. 256 Pitch Black Similar	3	One small textile
Smoky Brown `#4D3C29`	Sherwin-Williams SW 9183 Dark Clove Close Behr 280F-7 Breakfast Blend Close Valspar 6010-2 Deep Earth Similar Farrow & Ball No. 36 Mahogany Similar	5	One bold piece
Antique Bronze `#9D8258`	Behr 290F-5 Wooden Swing Very close Valspar 3006-7A Olive Branch Gold Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6138 Artifact Very close Farrow & Ball No. 40 Mouse's Back Similar	24	Wood and frames
Warm Sand `#CDAD8D`	Sherwin-Williams SW 7717 Ligonier Tan Very close Behr N250-3 Pottery Wheel Very close Valspar 2007-8A Cosy Chair Very close Farrow & Ball No. 6 London Stone Similar	45	Bed, sofa, curtains
Pale Apricot `#FFD8AE`	Behr 290B-4 Feather Plume Very close Valspar 3001-4B Peach Butter Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6652 Flan Very close Farrow & Ball No. 68 Dorset Cream Similar	73	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 apricot 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#DCC6B0

In north light, #FFD8AE keeps the room warm and open. Its LRV of 73 helps a dim space feel brighter.

South-facing room#FFDBB2

In strong sun the cream can look quite yellow. A slightly deeper sample like #CDAD8D is a calmer option.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#D2AD81

Under evening bulbs the dark browns look rich and soft, and the bronze #9D8258 picks up a metallic glow.

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 Antique Bronze and the rug border takes Dark Chestnut in every combination.

Mood board

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

Pale Apricot

Warm Sand

Smoky Brown

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821)

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 Flood Gate Emile van Marcke

Café Singer Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas, 1879

The Sacred Grove, Beloved of the Arts and the Muses Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, 1884–89

FAQ

Can I use these dark browns in a living room?

Yes, on a feature wall, built-ins or furniture. The painting's darkest color has an LRV of 1, so balance it with light walls.

What is the best wall color here?

#FFD8AE is the lightest and has a warm yellow undertone. It reflects light and softens the dark furniture.

What fabric colors suit this palette?

Tan, cream and bronze textiles work best. Add one dark brown piece for depth.

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.