North-facing room
#DCCCB2North light is cool and dim, so the warm undertone on the wall can look grayer and flatter. The high LRV of 79 still keeps the room from feeling closed in.
17th-century painting · art-to-room palette
Saint Francis Color Palette & Paint Colors
This palette is built from browns, clay tones, and warm creams taken from a dark, warm-toned oil painting. It suits rooms that need warmth and a settled, grounded feel, such as a dining room, a study, or a bedroom with wood furniture.
Quick answer
Use the palest shade, #FFE2B1, on the walls. Bring in #DFBC93 on trim or cabinets, and use the deeper browns on wood pieces, accent details, and textiles.
- Artist
- Peter Paul Rubens
- Date
- c. 1615
- Movement
- 17th-century painting
- Collection
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Image license
- Public domain (CC0)
- Wall color LRV
- 79
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.
Near-black warm umber
Deep terracotta brown
Weathered oak brown
Muted clay tan
Soft sand beige
Pale warm 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Near-black warm umber#413731 |
|
4 | Small accents, art, accessories |
Deep terracotta brown#725F50 |
|
12 | One bold piece |
Weathered oak brown#89705D |
|
18 | Wood and frames |
Muted clay tan#CE9C77 |
|
38 | One small textile |
Soft sand beige#DFBC93 |
|
54 | Bed, sofa, curtains |
Pale warm cream#FFE2B1 |
|
79 | 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 warm 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
#FFE3B4Strong south light makes the wall glow and brings out its yellow undertone. The room will feel brighter, so check a large sample before committing.
Evening, warm lamps (2700K)
#D2B383Warm evening bulbs deepen the cream and push it toward gold. The browns will look richer and more saturated after dark.
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 Weathered oak brown and the rug border takes Muted clay tan in every combination.
Mood board
Details from the painting next to the colors and materials that carry them into a room.
Pale warm cream
Soft sand beige
Deep terracotta 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
Which color should I use for the walls?
Use #FFE2B1, the palest shade, on the walls. Its LRV of 79 bounces light and keeps the room from feeling heavy, even with the darker browns in the furniture and details.
Can I use the darkest brown on a whole room?
The darkest shade, #413731, has an LRV of 4, so it reads very dark. Use it on one surface, such as a single door or a piece of furniture, rather than covering a full room.
How do I pair the browns with the lighter tones?
Place the mid browns on wood pieces and textiles, and balance them with the lighter sand and cream shades. Keep the wall in the lightest tone so the deeper colors stand out without crowding the space.
Image: The Art Institute of Chicago, 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.