16th-century Italian painting · art-to-room palette

Portrait of a Man in Profile Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette comes from an Italian painter's Portrait of a Man in Profile. It is a quiet set of khaki and brown with a copper accent, and it suits a study or a hallway.

Quick answer

Paint the walls the lightened tone #E4D5BC, use khaki #8B7B65 for main pieces, brown #8D5C37 for wood, #675A4B for textiles and copper #CA8A5E for accents.

Artist: Italian Painter
Movement: 16th-century Italian painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 68

Italian Painter, Portrait of a Man in Profile. 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.

Soft Black

#1A1918 · 37.8% · LRV 1

Deep Taupe

#675A4B · 25% · LRV 11

Light Khaki

#B6A68B · 14.8% · LRV 39

Mid Khaki

#8B7B65 · 14.3% · LRV 21

Leather Brown

#8D5C37 · 4.7% · LRV 14

Copper Clay

#CA8A5E · 3.4% · LRV 32

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 same scene in 6 flat colors.

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

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

Detail of the painting where Light Khaki is strongest — Light Khaki

Detail of the painting where Mid Khaki is strongest — Mid Khaki

Detail of the painting where Leather Brown is strongest — Leather 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
Soft Black `#1A1918`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6258 Tricorn Black Similar Behr 770F-7 Beluga Similar	1	Small accents, art, accessories
Deep Taupe `#675A4B`	Behr PPU7-25 Clove Brown Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 7054 Suitable Brown Very close Valspar 6006-2C Roasted Sepia Very close Farrow & Ball No. 290 Salon Drab Close	11	One small textile
Light Khaki `#B6A68B`	Behr HDC-NT-12 Curly Willow Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6150 Universal Khaki Very close Valspar 3007-10A Wetland Clay Close Farrow & Ball No. 17 Light Gray Close	39	Main walls
Mid Khaki `#8B7B65`	Sherwin-Williams SW 2820 Downing Earth Very close Behr HDC-NT-11 Sandalwood Tan Very close Valspar 2008-9B Caramelized Onion Close Farrow & Ball No. 40 Mouse's Back Similar	21	Bed, sofa, curtains
Leather Brown `#8D5C37`	Behr S230-7 Toasted Bagel Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6118 Leather Bound Very close Valspar 2008-7A Natural Cork Similar	14	Wood and frames
Copper Clay `#CA8A5E`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6361 Autumnal Very close Valspar 2008-5B Patio Stone Very close Behr PPU3-13 Glazed Ginger Very close Farrow & Ball No. 64 Red Earth Similar	32	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.

This painting has no light tone, so the wall color above is a lightened version of its palest color (#E4D5BC).

How the lightest tone 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#CAC4B9

In north light the wall color #E4D5BC keeps its warmth, and the khaki tones stay soft rather than gray.

South-facing room#EAD9BD

In strong south light the wall looks bright and creamy, and the copper clay #CA8A5E stands out.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#C3AB89

Under warm evening bulbs the khaki and leather brown deepen, and the copper glows.

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 Leather Brown and the rug border takes Deep Taupe in every combination.

Mood board

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

Light Khaki

Mid Khaki

Copper Clay

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

Allegory of Avarice Jacopo Ligozzi

Two Children Teasing a Cat Annibale Carracci

The Three Ages of Humans Dosso Dossi (Giovanni de Lutero), ca. 1515

FAQ

Why is the wall color not in the painting?

The painting has no light tone, so the wall color #E4D5BC is a lightened version of the palest color, #B6A68B.

Can I use the khaki on walls?

#B6A68B at LRV 39 works on walls in a bright room. In a dim room, the lighter wall color is safer.

How much copper should I use?

The copper #CA8A5E is only 3.4 percent of the painting. One accent piece is enough.

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.