Rood Screen - colour
Ashton - now
Ashton - then
Medieval rood screens are colourful but some colours are more common than others. In particular, green
and
red
are most often found - and this can be clearly seen where the backgrounds of adjacent panels
alternate
between
red and green. The colours we see today are faded from the originals. When painted,
the colours would have been more intense and vibrant.
The choice of colour is partly artistic, partly
symbolic
and always economic. Many of
the
colours
could be found naturally within Devon itself. For example, see
this. To the medieval mind colours had symbolic and religious meanings. Red was the colour of
majesty and glory. It was also the colour of blood and sacrifice. Blue is a sky colour and was often used to
symbolise Mary. Green is about growth.
But at the end of the day the cost and availability of
pigments
were decisive.
- Red lead was the most common red paint and this was often overpainted with vermillion (cinnabar or
from
mercuric sulphide). Red ochre provided a duller red. Madder was also used.
- Green came from verdigris (copper acetate). Often created by pouring vinegar over copper strips and
left for a few weeks.
- Flesh tints were provided by lead white and red iron oxide. Yellow ochre can also contribute.
- Blue could come from woad, azurite (copper carbonate) or indigo. Blue was more expensive than other
colours
but also had some mystical and spiritual associations. This meant that its use was more select.
- Yellow ochre was easily found in Devon and could be used to provide a range of yellowish hues.
- Black would often derive from soot, charcoal or burnt bones.