Neoclassicism
1760–1830Return to classical order after Rococo excess. Line over color, duty over passion — until revolution broke the mold.
Smooth, invisible brushwork. Dark backgrounds, sculptural lighting. Precise drawing over coloristic effects.
Jacques-Louis David
1748–1825French
Painter of revolution and empire. The Oath of the Horatii, The Death of Marat — art as political weapon.
Smooth, hard-edged technique. Restrained palette dominated by reds, whites, and dark browns. Sculptural lighting.
Further reading: Jacques-Louis David — Anita BrooknerRepublican red
Vivid red of revolutionary drapery — political signal.
Material: Vermilion, red lead
RGB(168, 32, 32)
Marat's bath white
The sheet and bath of the murdered revolutionary.
Material: Lead white, yellow ochre trace
RGB(218, 208, 192)
Roman toga cream
Off-white of classical drapery.
Material: Lead white, yellow ochre, raw umber
RGB(208, 192, 160)
Academy brown
Dark brown backgrounds — descended from Caravaggio.
Material: Bitumen, burnt umber, lamp black
RGB(58, 42, 24)
Marble grey
Grey of stone columns and classical architecture.
Material: Lead white, lamp black, raw umber
RGB(138, 138, 136)
Heroic flesh
Idealized, sculptural flesh — bodies as marble.
Material: Lead white, yellow ochre, vermilion
RGB(200, 160, 120)
Pigments: Vermilion · Red lead · Ochre · Lead white · Umber · Bitumen · Lamp black
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
1780–1867French
Supreme draftsman. Flesh like porcelain, line as pure as mathematics. The Grande Odalisque distorts anatomy for beauty.
Invisible brushwork — surface smooth as enamel. Cool, controlled palette. Line absolutely dominant over color.
Further reading: Ingres (Taschen Basic Art) — Karin H. GrimmePorcelain flesh
Impossibly smooth, luminous flesh — no visible brushwork.
Material: Lead white, vermilion, yellow ochre, glazed smooth
RGB(224, 200, 176)
Turkish bath blue
Deep blue of Eastern textiles — Orientalist luxury.
Material: Ultramarine, cobalt blue
RGB(42, 90, 138)
Velvet red
Rich red velvet in portrait backgrounds.
Material: Crimson lake, vermilion
RGB(138, 26, 26)
Gold brocade
Metallic gold of Napoleon's robes and furnishings.
Material: Gold paint, yellow ochre, lead-tin yellow
RGB(200, 168, 64)
Contour black
The precise black line that defines everything.
Material: Ivory black, pure
RGB(26, 26, 24)
Ivory ground
Warm ivory of smooth ground preparation.
Material: Lead white ground, sanded smooth
RGB(219, 208, 192)
Pigments: Vermilion · Ochre · Lead white · Ultramarine · Cobalt blue · Madder and the red lakes · Lead-tin yellow · Gold leaf · Bone black
Related Materials
If this palette inspired you, here’s what to paint with.
Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal Set, 24 PieceView on Amazon
Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colour Starter Set, 10 TubesView on Amazon
Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists’ Colour Pencils, Tin of 24View on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Pigmentoria earns from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links.