Six centuries of colour
Every painting's palette, added up by 25-year period. Earth browns and golds hold the old masters; blues, greens and light tones open up in the 19th century. Hover or tap a bar for its numbers.
Share of each colour family in the paintings on this site, by 25-year period 1300–1324: Red 4% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Orange 0% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Yellow 1% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Blue 0% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Pink 4% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Brown 30% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Gold & ochre 36% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Black 9% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: Grey 10% (31 paintings) 1300–1324: White & cream 6% (31 paintings) 1300 1325–1349: Red 3% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Orange 11% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Yellow 3% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Green 1% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Blue 1% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Brown 39% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Gold & ochre 28% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Black 11% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: Grey 2% (13 paintings) 1325–1349: White & cream 1% (13 paintings) 1350–1374: Red 1% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: Orange 0% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: Blue 0% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: Pink 1% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: Brown 21% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: Gold & ochre 48% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: Black 5% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: Grey 15% (19 paintings) 1350–1374: White & cream 8% (19 paintings) 1350 1375–1399: Red 3% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Orange 1% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Yellow 2% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Green 0% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Blue 0% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Brown 35% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Gold & ochre 33% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Black 9% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: Grey 12% (14 paintings) 1375–1399: White & cream 5% (14 paintings) 1400–1424: Red 4% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Orange 1% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Yellow 3% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Green 4% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Teal 0% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Blue 1% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Purple 0% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Pink 1% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Brown 31% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Gold & ochre 38% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Black 5% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: Grey 8% (24 paintings) 1400–1424: White & cream 3% (24 paintings) 1400 1425–1449: Red 4% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Orange 2% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Yellow 2% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Green 1% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Teal 3% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Blue 2% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Pink 1% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Brown 22% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Gold & ochre 35% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Black 12% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: Grey 11% (27 paintings) 1425–1449: White & cream 4% (27 paintings) 1450–1474: Red 4% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Orange 1% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Yellow 2% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Green 2% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Teal 1% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Blue 3% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Purple 0% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Pink 2% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Brown 38% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Gold & ochre 19% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Black 19% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: Grey 9% (58 paintings) 1450–1474: White & cream 1% (58 paintings) 1450 1475–1499: Red 5% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Orange 1% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Yellow 1% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Green 5% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Teal 1% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Blue 2% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Pink 0% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Brown 31% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Gold & ochre 27% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Black 14% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: Grey 10% (96 paintings) 1475–1499: White & cream 3% (96 paintings) 1500–1524: Red 3% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Orange 0% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Yellow 0% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Green 3% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Teal 1% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Blue 2% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Pink 0% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Brown 33% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Gold & ochre 18% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Black 28% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: Grey 10% (85 paintings) 1500–1524: White & cream 1% (85 paintings) 1500 1525–1549: Red 2% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Orange 0% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Yellow 0% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Green 3% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Teal 1% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Blue 1% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Pink 0% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Brown 27% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Gold & ochre 20% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Black 33% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: Grey 11% (50 paintings) 1525–1549: White & cream 1% (50 paintings) 1550–1574: Red 3% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Orange 0% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Yellow 1% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Green 2% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Teal 0% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Blue 2% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Purple 0% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Pink 7% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Brown 15% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Gold & ochre 44% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Black 14% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: Grey 11% (92 paintings) 1550–1574: White & cream 1% (92 paintings) 1550 1575–1599: Red 2% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Orange 1% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Yellow 2% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Green 6% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Teal 0% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Blue 2% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Pink 1% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Brown 17% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Gold & ochre 34% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Black 21% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: Grey 10% (52 paintings) 1575–1599: White & cream 4% (52 paintings) 1600–1624: Red 2% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Orange 1% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Yellow 1% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Green 4% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Teal 0% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Blue 1% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Pink 1% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Brown 23% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Gold & ochre 25% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Black 28% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: Grey 11% (112 paintings) 1600–1624: White & cream 4% (112 paintings) 1600 1625–1649: Red 2% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Orange 0% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Yellow 1% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Green 3% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Teal 0% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Blue 1% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Pink 1% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Brown 21% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Gold & ochre 18% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Black 28% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: Grey 22% (112 paintings) 1625–1649: White & cream 3% (112 paintings) 1650–1674: Red 3% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Orange 1% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Yellow 2% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Green 2% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Blue 3% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Pink 1% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Brown 22% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Gold & ochre 16% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Black 36% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: Grey 12% (98 paintings) 1650–1674: White & cream 3% (98 paintings) 1650 1675–1699: Red 6% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Orange 3% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Yellow 5% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Green 3% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Blue 1% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Pink 2% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Brown 16% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Gold & ochre 24% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Black 17% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: Grey 19% (68 paintings) 1675–1699: White & cream 4% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Red 5% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Orange 1% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Yellow 3% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Green 5% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Blue 0% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Pink 1% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Brown 19% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Gold & ochre 25% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Black 19% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: Grey 16% (68 paintings) 1700–1724: White & cream 6% (68 paintings) 1700 1725–1749: Red 10% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Orange 8% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Yellow 3% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Green 7% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Blue 1% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Pink 1% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Brown 17% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Gold & ochre 18% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Black 15% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: Grey 17% (125 paintings) 1725–1749: White & cream 3% (125 paintings) 1750–1774: Red 5% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Orange 1% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Yellow 2% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Green 5% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Teal 1% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Blue 0% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Pink 1% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Brown 20% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Gold & ochre 20% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Black 23% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: Grey 21% (92 paintings) 1750–1774: White & cream 2% (92 paintings) 1750 1775–1799: Red 1% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Orange 1% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Yellow 0% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Green 6% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Teal 1% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Blue 1% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Pink 1% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Brown 23% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Gold & ochre 21% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Black 29% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: Grey 13% (99 paintings) 1775–1799: White & cream 3% (99 paintings) 1800–1824: Red 2% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Orange 1% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Yellow 2% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Green 4% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Teal 0% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Blue 0% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Pink 1% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Brown 24% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Gold & ochre 20% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Black 23% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: Grey 18% (176 paintings) 1800–1824: White & cream 5% (176 paintings) 1800 1825–1849: Red 2% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Orange 1% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Yellow 1% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Green 9% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Teal 2% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Blue 2% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Pink 0% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Brown 26% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Gold & ochre 19% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Black 23% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: Grey 12% (150 paintings) 1825–1849: White & cream 4% (150 paintings) 1850–1874: Red 1% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Orange 0% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Yellow 0% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Green 8% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Teal 1% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Blue 1% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Purple 0% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Pink 0% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Brown 29% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Gold & ochre 13% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Black 28% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: Grey 17% (231 paintings) 1850–1874: White & cream 2% (231 paintings) 1850 1875–1899: Red 1% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Orange 0% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Yellow 1% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Green 11% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Teal 2% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Blue 4% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Purple 0% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Pink 1% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Brown 18% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Gold & ochre 16% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Black 13% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: Grey 28% (458 paintings) 1875–1899: White & cream 5% (458 paintings) 1900–1924: Red 6% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Orange 2% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Yellow 2% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Green 11% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Teal 3% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Blue 10% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Purple 1% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Pink 2% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Brown 10% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Gold & ochre 13% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Black 12% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: Grey 21% (413 paintings) 1900–1924: White & cream 5% (413 paintings) 1900 1925–1949: Red 4% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Orange 1% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Yellow 2% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Green 6% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Teal 3% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Blue 19% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Purple 4% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Pink 4% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Brown 7% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Gold & ochre 10% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Black 12% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: Grey 21% (44 paintings) 1925–1949: White & cream 6% (44 paintings) 100% 50% 0%
Shares of each colour family in the palettes of the paintings on this site, periods with at least 8 paintings. This describes this selection of public-domain paintings, not all art. Periods and movements
Vaishravana, the Guardian of Buddhism and Protector of Riches
Tibet artist, 15th century
The Maiden
Gustav Klimt, 1913
Southern Barbarians
Unknown artist, mid 17th century
A City Park
William Merritt Chase, c. 1887
Mount Sainte-Victoire
Paul Cézanne, c. 1904
Boy with Pitcher (La Régalade)
Édouard Manet, 1862–72
Herself
Robert Henri, 1913
The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise
Benjamin West, 1791, retouched 1803
Portrait of the Great Master Seosan
Unidentified artist, late 17th–18th century
Panels from the Altarpiece of The Assumption of the Virgin with Saints: The Assumption of the Virgin
Italian, 1450–75
Lucie Berard (Child in White)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1883
Still Life with Oranges
Henri Matisse, 1912
Vaishravana, the Guardian of Buddhism and Protector of Riches
Tibet artist, 15th century
The Maiden
Gustav Klimt, 1913
Southern Barbarians
Unknown artist, mid 17th century
A City Park
William Merritt Chase, c. 1887
Mount Sainte-Victoire
Paul Cézanne, c. 1904
Boy with Pitcher (La Régalade)
Édouard Manet, 1862–72
Herself
Robert Henri, 1913
The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise
Benjamin West, 1791, retouched 1803
Portrait of the Great Master Seosan
Unidentified artist, late 17th–18th century
Panels from the Altarpiece of The Assumption of the Virgin with Saints: The Assumption of the Virgin
Italian, 1450–75
Lucie Berard (Child in White)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1883
Still Life with Oranges
Henri Matisse, 1912