John Singer Sargent
Sargent's documented watercolor palette included Alizarin Carmine, Brown Pink, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Yellow Pale, Chrome Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Gamboge, Lamp Black, Rose Madder, Ultramarine Blue, Vandyke Brown, Scarlet Vermilion, Deep Vermilion, Viridian, and an opaque white. His signature colors were Ultramarine Blue and Vandyke Brown, and his favorite green was Viridian.
Modern Equivalents — Daniel Smith & Winsor & Newton
| Sargent Color | Daniel Smith | Winsor & Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Ultramarine Blue | Ultramarine Blue | French Ultramarine |
| Cobalt Blue | Cobalt Blue | Cobalt Blue |
| Viridian | Viridian | Viridian Hue (or genuine Viridian) |
| Burnt Sienna | Burnt Sienna | Burnt Sienna |
| Vandyke Brown | Vandyke Brown | Vandyke Brown |
| Lamp Black | Lamp Black | Lamp Black |
| Cadmium Yellow Pale | Cadmium Yellow Light | Cadmium Yellow Pale |
| Alizarin Carmine / Rose Madder | Quinacridone Rose (lightfast sub) | Permanent Alizarin Crimson (sub) |
| Gamboge | New Gamboge | Gamboge Hue |
| Opaque White | Titanium White (gouache) | Chinese White |
Key notes:
- Rose Madder and Alizarin Carmine are historically fugitive. DS Quinacridone Rose or Quinacridone Magenta are the best modern substitutes. W&N Permanent Alizarin Crimson (PR206) is also excellent.
- Brown Pink (a golden-olive) is hard to find but Sennelier Brown Pink (PY150/PG7/PBr23) is a faithful modern recreation — worth seeking out as a Sargent-specific color.
- Sargent's watercolor palette is mostly cool with a few strong warm colors — quite refined, with no redundant colors, each clean and bright. This means you don't need a large palette — a focused 12–14 color selection is very true to his approach.
Winslow Homer
Homer's palette from the last decade of his life (1900–1910) is documented from the original tin box preserved at Bowdoin College Art Museum, which was analyzed in 1980 using spectrography, X-ray, microscopy, and chromatography. The analysis identified colors including Burnt Umber, Prussian Blue, Indian Yellow, Hooker's Green (New Gamboge + Prussian Blue), Vermilion, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Yellow, Vandyke Brown, Red Lake, and others.
Additional colors identified included Green Earth (celadonite), Ivory Black, Indian Yellow, Red Ochre/Indian Red, and multiple vermilion pans.
Modern Equivalents — Daniel Smith & Winsor & Newton
| Homer Color | Daniel Smith | Winsor & Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Prussian Blue | Prussian Blue | Prussian Blue |
| Burnt Umber | Burnt Umber | Burnt Umber |
| Burnt Sienna | Burnt Sienna | Burnt Sienna |
| Cadmium Yellow | Cadmium Yellow | Cadmium Yellow |
| Indian Yellow | Indian Yellow (DS has a genuine single-pigment) | Indian Yellow |
| Vermilion | Cadmium Red (sub) or Vermilion | Cadmium Red (sub) |
| Red Ochre / Indian Red | Indian Red | Indian Red |
| Hooker's Green | Hooker's Green (or mix Prussian + New Gamboge) | Hooker's Green Dark |
| Green Earth | Green Earth (Celadonite) | — (DS is better here) |
| Ivory Black | Ivory Black | Ivory Black |
| Vandyke Brown | Vandyke Brown | Vandyke Brown |
Key notes:
- Homer's widespread use of cochineal-based red pigments (carmine, red lake) is notable, and fading of these colorants significantly affected his surviving work. For permanence, substitute with DS Quinacridone Coral or Permanent Carmine, or W&N Permanent Carmine.
- Homer used Winsor & Newton "Moist Colour" pans — the labeled colors in his surviving box included Indian Red and Vermilion. W&N has a natural brand-authenticity claim here.
- Daniel Smith shines for Homer specifically because of their Green Earth (Celadonite) — a genuine single-pigment that matches the celadonite Homer used in his Caribbean-period greens. W&N doesn't carry this as a distinct color.
- Homer's palette is warmer and earthier overall than Sargent's — heavy on ochres, umbers, sienna, and Prussian Blue as the workhorse blue.
Quick Summary
| Sargent | Homer | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Cool, luminous, Mediterranean light | Warm, earthy, rugged outdoor naturalism |
| Blues | Ultramarine + Cobalt | Prussian Blue (dominant) |
| Greens | Viridian | Hooker's Green, Green Earth |
| Reds | Rose Madder, Vermilion | Carmine, Red Ochre, Vermilion |
| Brand edge | DS or W&N both work well | DS for Green Earth; W&N for historical brand authenticity |
Both painters reward a relatively limited palette — 12–16 colors max. The bigger difference between them is mood: Sargent's palette sings in cool blues and transparent washes, while Homer's leans into warm earth tones and bold Prussian Blue contrasts.