It is not brown paint which constitutes the color of most antiqued bronze sculptures. The brown coloration is a patina. A patina is a surface finish resulting from a reaction which takes place between a chemical and the copper present in the bronze alloy. Often heat is used as a catalyst to make the reaction happen faster and to make it more steadfast.

Browns on bronze are usually created using at least one part ferric nitrate. The application of patina is one that requires specific skill and practice to achieve predictable results.