15th-century French painting · art-to-room palette

Portrait of a Monk in Prayer Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette is taken from a dark oil portrait of a monk in prayer. Deep blue-black and warm, dusty browns carry most of the image, with pale peach tones on the lightest areas. It suits a room that should feel quiet and enclosed, such as a reading nook, bedroom, or study.

Quick answer

Use the lightest shade, #FFE4D3, on the main walls so the room stays open. Use the warm mid-tone #C4A898 on a lower wall, cabinetry, or large furniture. Put the deep blue #2B5863 on one accent surface such as a door or built-in, and use the warm brown #937164 for textiles like cushions and curtains.

Artist: French Painter
Movement: 15th-century French painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 81

Portrait of a Monk in Prayer by French Painter — French Painter, *Portrait of a Monk in Prayer*. 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 Blue-Black

#141414 · 56.3% · LRV 1

Dusky Teal Blue

#2B5863 · 27.8% · LRV 8

Soft Warm Clay

#C4A898 · 6.2% · LRV 42

Dark Roasted Brown

#674D45 · 4.1% · LRV 9

Muted Taupe Brown

#937164 · 3.3% · LRV 19

Pale Peach Cream

#FFE4D3 · 2.3% · LRV 82

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.

Portrait of a Monk in Prayer reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Deep Blue-Black is strongest — Deep Blue-Black

Detail of the painting where Dusky Teal Blue is strongest — Dusky Teal Blue

Detail of the painting where Soft Warm Clay is strongest — Soft Warm Clay

Detail of the painting where Dark Roasted Brown is strongest — Dark Roasted Brown

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

Detail of the painting where Pale Peach Cream is strongest — Pale Peach Cream

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 Blue-Black `#141414`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6258 Tricorn Black Similar Behr 770F-7 Beluga Similar	1	Small accents, art, accessories
Dusky Teal Blue `#2B5863`	Behr QE-47 Petro Blue Near-identical Valspar 5011-8 Classic Teal Close Sherwin-Williams SW 9060 Connor's Lakefront Close Farrow & Ball No. 30 Hague Blue Similar	8	One bold piece
Soft Warm Clay `#C4A898`	Valspar 2001-10A Desert Travels Near-identical Sherwin-Williams SW 79 Pinky Beige Very close Behr S220-3 Sanderling Close Farrow & Ball No. 28 Dead Salmon Close	42	Bed, sofa, curtains
Dark Roasted Brown `#674D45`	Valspar 2011-9 Soul Chocolate Very close Behr QE-16 Earth Chicory Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 2856 Fairfax Brown Close Farrow & Ball No. 36 Mahogany Similar	9	Small accents, art, accessories
Muted Taupe Brown `#937164`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6046 Swing Brown Very close Valspar 2002-9B Roadhouse Tavern Close Behr BXC-84 Corral Brown Close Farrow & Ball No. 295 Sulking Room Pink Similar	19	One small textile
Pale Peach Cream `#FFE4D3`	Behr P210-1 Sour Candy Very close Valspar 2002-2C Peach Kiss Very close Farrow & Ball No. 202 Pink Ground Close Sherwin-Williams SW 6336 Nearly Peach Close	82	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 peach 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#DCCEC8

In north light, the wall color #FFE4D3 looks cooler and a little grayer. Its LRV of 81 keeps it light, so the room still feels bright without glare.

South-facing room#FFE4CF

In strong south light, #FFE4D3 reads brighter and more golden, and the peach undertone shows clearly. Expect the wall to look softer and creamier than it does in the shop.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#D2B496

Under warm evening bulbs, #FFE4D3 takes on a rosy, amber cast. The warm red-orange undertone becomes more noticeable, so the room feels cozier.

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 a warm mid-brown and the rug border takes Muted Taupe Brown in every combination.

Mood board

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

Pale Peach Cream

Soft Warm Clay

Dusky Teal Blue

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Portrait of a Monk in Prayer

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

Guides that use colors from this painting

Victorian Exterior Paint Schemes House exterior · Victorian

Blue Bathroom Paint Colors Measured from Paintings Blue · Bathroom

More palettes like this

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) French Painter

Portrait of a Man French Painter

FAQ

Can I use the darkest color, #141414, on a whole room?

It has an LRV of 1, so a full room in this color will feel very enclosed. Use it on a small area, such as a niche, a cabinet interior, or trim, where it adds depth.

Which color should I use on the ceiling?

Use the lightest shade, #FFE4D3, on the ceiling. A light ceiling keeps the room from feeling closed in, and it works well with the warm walls.

How do I keep the palette from feeling too heavy?

Keep the walls in #FFE4D3 and limit the dark tones to a few pieces. Use the deep blue #2B5863 on one accent only, and let the warm brown #937164 appear in textiles rather than on large surfaces.

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.