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

Francesco d'Este (born ca. 1429, died after 1486) Color Palette & Paint Colors

This palette is six colors measured from Francesco d'Este, a 1460 oil-on-wood portrait by Rogier van der Weyden at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It runs from near-black through warm ochres and browns to a pale cream, so it suits rooms that want warmth and depth more than bright white.

Quick answer

Use the soft butter cream (LRV 70) on the walls and the honey ochre (LRV 34) on larger pieces such as a sofa or cabinet. Put the pale linen beige (LRV 60) in textiles like curtains and cushions, and keep the deep russet brown and near-black charcoal for accents, doors, or trim. The mid-tone wood brown (LRV 22) works well for wood floors, frames, and shelving.

Artist: Rogier van der Weyden
Date: ca. 1460
Movement: 15th-century painting
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image license: Public domain (CC0)
Wall color LRV: 70

Francesco d'Este (born ca. 1429, died after 1486) by Rogier van der Weyden — Rogier van der Weyden, *Francesco d'Este (born ca. 1429, died after 1486)*, ca. 1460. 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.

Near-black warm charcoal

#171413 · 21% · LRV 1

Tarnished wood brown

#9E7B51 · 19% · LRV 22

Honey ochre tan

#C09761 · 18.8% · LRV 34

Pale linen beige

#D7CAB2 · 17.8% · LRV 60

Deep russet brown

#76553A · 16% · LRV 11

Soft butter cream

#FFD390 · 7.5% · LRV 70

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.

Francesco d'Este (born ca. 1429, died after 1486) reduced to its palette colors — The same scene in 6 flat colors.

Detail of the painting where Near-black warm charcoal is strongest — Near-black warm charcoal

Detail of the painting where Tarnished wood brown is strongest — Tarnished wood brown

Detail of the painting where Honey ochre tan is strongest — Honey ochre tan

Detail of the painting where Pale linen beige is strongest — Pale linen beige

Detail of the painting where Deep russet brown is strongest — Deep russet brown

Detail of the painting where Soft butter cream is strongest — Soft butter 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
Near-black warm charcoal `#171413`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6258 Tricorn Black Similar	1	Small accents, art, accessories
Tarnished wood brown `#9E7B51`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6124 Cardboard Very close Behr MQ2-14 Lavish Gold Very close Valspar 3004-7A Praline Cake Very close Farrow & Ball No. 40 Mouse's Back Similar	22	Wood and frames
Honey ochre tan `#C09761`	Sherwin-Williams SW 6130 Mannered Gold Near-identical Behr UL160-3 Gold Torch Very close Valspar 3004-7B Lariat Tan Very close Farrow & Ball No. 66 India Yellow Close	34	Bed, sofa, curtains
Pale linen beige `#D7CAB2`	Behr MQ3-15 Bell Tower Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6141 Softer Tan Very close Valspar 6008-3B Dakota Trail Very close Farrow & Ball No. 4 Old White Very close	60	One small textile
Deep russet brown `#76553A`	Sherwin-Williams SW 9099 Saddle Up Very close Behr S220-7 Molasses Very close Valspar 3011-8 Dark Earth Close Farrow & Ball No. 290 Salon Drab Similar	11	One bold piece
Soft butter cream `#FFD390`	Behr 300B-4 Sunporch Very close Valspar 3002-4A Croissant Very close Sherwin-Williams SW 6667 Afterglow Very close Farrow & Ball No. 218 Yellow Ground Close	70	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 soft 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.

North-facing room#DCC39C

North light is cooler and dimmer, so the butter cream wall can look more yellow and a little flat. Its LRV of 70 keeps the room bright enough, and the warm undertone helps counter the cool daylight.

South-facing room#FFD79A

Strong south light brings out the warmth in the butter cream and can make it look close to pale gold for much of the day. Test a large sample first, since the color will shift as the sun moves across the room.

Evening, warm lamps (2700K)#D2AA70

Under warm evening bulbs, the butter cream and honey ochre look richer and more golden. The deep russet and charcoal stay dark and grounded, so the room keeps its depth after sunset.

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 Tarnished wood brown and the rug border takes Pale linen beige in every combination.

Mood board

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

Soft butter cream

Honey ochre tan

Deep russet brown

Linen

Oiled oak

Lime plaster

Aged brass

Palette card for Francesco d'Este (born ca. 1429, died after 1486)

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

Earthy Tone Bedroom Colors, Measured From Paintings Earthy · Bedroom

Red Color for a Bedroom: Three Shades and What to Pair Them With Red · Bedroom

More palettes like this

The Adoration of the Magi Hieronymus Bosch, ca. 1475

Portrait of a Man Hugo van der Goes, ca. 1475

Portrait of a Man in a Chaperon Netherlandish Painter

FAQ

Can I paint a whole room in the near-black charcoal?

The near-black charcoal has an LRV of 1, so it absorbs nearly all light and reads as very dark. It is better used as a single accent, such as a door, cabinet, or a narrow feature wall, than as the main color of a room.

Which color works best for trim and doors?

The deep russet brown (LRV 11) gives trim and doors a strong contrast against the butter cream wall. The pale linen beige (LRV 60) is a softer option if you want less contrast.

Will this palette work in a small room?

The butter cream wall (LRV 70) helps a small room feel open because it reflects a lot of light. Keep the darker colors to a few accents so the room does not feel closed in.

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.