Richard Fay
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 Posted: Sun 29 Oct, 2006 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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Hello all!
Okay, I've recovered sufficiently from my confusion yesterday to post some more examples from period art. Let me point out that one must be careful when interpreting period art, but it can give us an idea of what medieval artists and patrons thought were appropriate colours. (Remember, the artists were working for the lords who would have worn the armour and used the weapons depicted in most of the more elaborately decorated manuscripts)
I found one example from a late 14th century fragment of a choirbook showing the execution of John the Baptist. The soldier beheading the saint carries a sword with a grip of the same grey colour as the blade, cross, and pommel. It appears to be wrapped in iron, steel, or silver wire.
The following examples are all from The Visconti Hours, an early 15th century manuscript (many of the swords depicted in this manuscript are reminiscent of Estore Visconti's sword, including the possession of a rain guard):
In the border of LF 17., a figure holds a sword with a gilt or gold grip and rain guard.
A figure in LF. 18v. wears a "gilded sword", both scabbard and hilt (including grip) are coloured in gold.
A figure in LF 29v., the "Massacre of the Innocents", wields a sword with a black grip.
A soldier in LF 40v. wears a sword with a red grip in a red scabbard suspended by a red belt.
A figure on the border of LF 166. holds a sword with a red or pink grip and rain guard.
Again, red, gold, and black are most common. A couple figures do have blue sword grips, but that is only because the entire figure is coloured blue!
I might come up with some more examples, I'll have to look around and see what I find!
Stay safe!
"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did! I'm going to recite poetry!"
Prince Andrew of Armar
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