North-facing room
#C7C6B8The cream #DFD7BB has an LRV of 68, so on a north wall it reflects enough light to keep the room from feeling like a cave beside the dark furniture.
17th-century Dutch painting · art-to-room palette
Portrait of a Woman Color Palette & Paint Colors
Rembrandt painted this Portrait of a Woman in 1633, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds it. Almost 88 percent of the canvas is one very dark brown, so the palette is built for a dramatic, intimate room.
Quick answer
Color the walls #DFD7BB for balance, or go bold with #2C251C in a small room, then add the golden brown #856747 on wood and the soft rose #B08362 on textiles.
- Date
- 1633
- Movement
- 17th-century Dutch painting
- Collection
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 68
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.
Portrait Black Brown
Antique Walnut
Lace Collar Cream
Parchment Khaki
Flesh Tone Peach
Dusty Terracotta
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Portrait Black Brown#2C251C |
|
2 | One bold piece |
Antique Walnut#856747 |
|
15 | Wood and frames |
Lace Collar Cream#DFD7BB |
|
68 | Main walls |
Parchment Khaki#BAB39A |
|
45 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Flesh Tone Peach#D6AF8A |
|
47 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Dusty Terracotta#B08362 |
|
26 | 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 lace collar 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
#E6DABCIn strong south light the dark #2C251C, with an LRV of 2, looks like a deep brown rather than black, and you can see its warm yellow undertone.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#C0AC88Under warm evening bulbs the dark brown absorbs most of the glow, so add lamps at table height to keep the room from feeling closed in.
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 Antique Walnut and the rug border takes Dusty Terracotta in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Lace Collar Cream
Parchment Khaki
Portrait Black 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.
Guides that use colors from this painting
More palettes like this
FAQ
Can I paint a whole room in #2C251C?
Yes, in a small room such as a study or powder room it can feel deliberate and cozy. Use a matte finish and plan enough lamps, because an LRV of 2 absorbs nearly all the light.
What is a safe way to use this palette?
Paint the walls #DFD7BB and bring in the dark brown through furniture, a bookshelf back or a door. That gives the contrast of the painting without darkening the whole room.
Which shade works as a middle tone?
The khaki #BAB39A, with an LRV of 45, sits between the cream and the dark brown. It suits curtains, a sofa or a hallway.
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.