North-facing room
#DCD1ACNorth light is cooler and softer, so the butter cream can look greyer and flatter. Keep the warm apricot and tan nearby to hold the yellow undertone.
18th-century British painting · art-to-room palette
Alexander Maconochie (1777–1861) of Meadowbank Color Palette & Paint Colors
This palette comes from Sir Henry Raeburn's oil portrait "Alexander Maconochie (1777–1861) of Meadowbank," held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It runs from near-black browns to a pale butter cream, with warm apricot and tan in between.
Quick answer
Put the pale butter cream on the walls and the dark umber on one accent wall or a door. Use the warm apricot for the largest upholstered piece, the burnt sienna tan for wood, and the deep taupe brown for curtains or throws.
- Artist
- Sir Henry Raeburn
- Movement
- 18th-century British painting
- Collection
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 82
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 Charcoal Black
Dark Umber Brown
Deep Taupe Brown
Warm Apricot Clay
Burnt Sienna Tan
Pale Butter Cream
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.
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 Charcoal Black#34322D |
|
3 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Dark Umber Brown#494036 |
|
5 | One bold piece |
Deep Taupe Brown#5E5040 |
|
9 | One small textile |
Warm Apricot Clay#EDA87B |
|
47 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Burnt Sienna Tan#A67859 |
|
22 | Wood and frames |
Pale Butter Cream#FFE8A9 |
|
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 butter 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.
South-facing room
#FFE8AEStrong south light makes the butter cream look bright and can wash out the room. The high light value means it will reflect a lot of light, so test a sample large on the wall first.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#D2B67EWarm evening bulbs bring out the yellow in the cream and the warmth in the browns. The room will feel close and cozy, and the dark accent wall will look richer.
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.
Wood takes Burnt Sienna Tan and the rug border takes Deep Taupe Brown in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Pale Butter Cream
Warm Apricot Clay
Dark Umber Brown
Save this palette
A card with the painting, all 6 colors and a room scheme. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
More palettes like this
FAQ
Can I use the darkest colors in a small room?
Use the darkest color, the near-black charcoal, only in small amounts. Pair it with the pale cream so the room does not close in.
Which color should go on the ceiling?
The pale butter cream works well on a ceiling. Its light value keeps the space open, especially if the walls use the warmer apricot or tan.
How do I keep the palette from feeling too heavy?
Use the dark umber and taupe in fabrics and small pieces rather than on large walls. Let the cream and apricot cover most of the room.
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.