Exploring the Most Iconic Limited and Expanded Palettes in Art History

Artists throughout history have relied on carefully chosen palettes to create harmonious, expressive, and masterful paintings. While some artists preferred limited palettes for their simplicity and unity, others expanded their color choices for greater vibrancy and depth. Below is an exploration of some of the most famous limited and expanded palettes, who used them, and their benefits.

Famous Limited Palettes

Let's start by exploring some of the most renowned limited palettes used by famous artists

1. Zorn Palette (Anders Zorn)

Colors:

• Yellow Ochre

• Vermilion (or Cadmium Red Light)

• Ivory Black

• Titanium White

Who Used It?

• Anders Zorn (Swedish painter, 1860–1920)

• Many contemporary portrait and figurative artists

Benefits:

• Mimics naturalistic skin tones effortlessly

• Ivory Black acts as a cool blue substitute

• Creates harmony and avoids color discord

• Great for portraiture and warm lighting effects

2. The Apelles Palette (Apelles, Ancient Greece)

Colors:

• Yellow Ochre

• Red Ochre

• Carbon Black

• White

Who Used It?

• Apelles (Famous Greek painter of antiquity, 4th century BCE)

Benefits:

• Similar to Zorn but older

• Allows for subtle tonal gradations

• Limited pigments keep compositions cohesive

• Helps create an "old master" feel

3. The Velázquez Palette (Diego Velázquez)

Colors:

• Lead White

• Yellow Ochre

• Red Ochre (or Burnt Sienna)

• Ivory or Bone Black

• Raw Umber (sometimes)

Who Used It?

• Diego Velázquez (Spanish Baroque master, 1599–1660)

Benefits:

• Perfect for chiaroscuro and atmospheric depth

• Subtle control over warm/cool grays

• Great for classical portraiture and muted tones

4. The Classical Flemish Palette

Colors:

• Lead Tin Yellow

• Vermilion

• Ivory Black

• Burnt Umber

• Titanium White

Who Used It?

• Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens

Benefits:

• Ideal for rich, dramatic lighting

• Strong contrast with deep shadows

• Warm golden tones

5. The Reilly Palette (Frank Reilly)

Colors:

• Cadmium Red Light

• Yellow Ochre

• Ultramarine Blue

• Ivory Black

• Titanium White

Who Used It?

• Frank Reilly (20th-century American artist and teacher)

Benefits:

• Designed for portrait painters

• Systematic color mixing for skin tones

• Strong balance between warm and cool colors

Famous Expanded Palettes

Now, let's look at some famous expanded palettes that have brought vibrancy and depth to many masterpieces.

1. The Impressionist Palette (Monet, Renoir, Degas, etc.)

Typical Colors:

• Lead White or Titanium White

• Cadmium Yellow Light, Cadmium Yellow Deep

• Vermilion or Cadmium Red

• Alizarin Crimson

• Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue

• Viridian

• Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna

• Burnt Umber

Who Used It?

• Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro

Benefits:

• High chroma for vibrant outdoor scenes

• Focus on optical mixing rather than earth tones

• Avoided black to keep colors luminous

2. The Venetian Palette (Titian, Giorgione, Veronese)

Colors:

• Lead Tin Yellow

• Vermilion

• Madder Lake

• Ultramarine

• Green Earth

• Burnt Sienna

• Raw Umber

• Black

• White

Who Used It?

• Titian, Giorgione, Veronese, Tintoretto

Benefits:

• Deep, glowing skin tones

• Perfect for glazing techniques

• Rich reds and warm tones for Baroque-style depth

3. The Post-Impressionist Palette (Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin)

Colors:

• Lead White

• Cadmium Yellow, Naples Yellow

• Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson

• Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine

• Viridian

• Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna

Who Used It?

• Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin

Benefits:

• Strong, expressive contrasts

• Emphasized complementary color relationships

• Less focus on realism, more on emotion

4. The Barbizon Palette

Colors:

• Yellow Ochre

• Burnt Sienna

• Raw Umber

• Red Ochre

• Ivory Black

• Ultramarine Blue

• Titanium or Lead White

Who Used It?

• Jean-François Millet, Théodore Rousseau, Charles-François Daubigny

Benefits:

• Earthy, natural tones perfect for moody landscapes

• Muted and atmospheric, suited for capturing light and weather effects

5. Sorolla’s Palette

Colors:

• Cadmium Yellow Lemon

• Cadmium Yellow Deep

• Vermilion

• Alizarin Crimson

• Cobalt Blue

• Ultramarine Blue

• Emerald Green or Viridian

• Burnt Sienna

• Raw Umber

• Lead White or Titanium White

Who Used It?

• Joaquín Sorolla (Spanish master of light and movement)

Benefits:

• Vibrant, high-contrast colors perfect for light-infused compositions

• Excellent for capturing movement and dramatic shifts in lighting

Which Palette Should You Try?

Here is a great guide on Painting With a Limited Palette

Since my painting style blends atmospheric landscapes and textural expressionism, these palettes might suit my work:

• Barbizon Palette (for earthy, natural tones)

• Venetian Palette (for deep, glowing textures)

• Sorolla’s Palette (for light and movement)

Exploring these palettes will help refine my use of oil and cold wax while maintaining color harmony and expression. Which palette resonates with you? Let me know your thoughts!