A Cultural History of Color in the Medieval Age

The Cultural History of Color in the Medieval Age covers the period 500 to 1400, with a burst of color in illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, architecture, and interiors. Color was used to denote affiliation, social status, and virtues and vices, and philosophers, theologians, and artists developed a color symbolism for both. The 6-volume set examines how color has been created, traded, used, and interpreted over the last 5000 years, with themes including color philosophy and science, technology and trade, power and identity, religion and ritual, body and clothing, language and psychology, literature and the performing arts, art, architecture and interiors, and artefacts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A Cultural History of Color in the Medieval Age spans the period from 500 to 1400, witnessing a remarkable resurgence of color across various aspects of medieval life. This era saw the creation of illuminated manuscripts adorned with vibrant illustrations, the construction of polychrome sculptures, the adornment of architecture and interiors with colorful designs, and the use of colored glass and exquisite ornamentation on artifacts. Color played a significant role in medieval society, serving as a means of affiliation in heraldry and indicating social status through clothing. Color names were coined in different languages, and their symbolic meanings were explored in various literary works, including poems, romances, epics, and plays. While medieval philosophers began to unravel the nature of the rainbow, theologians and artists developed a rich color symbolism associated with both virtues and vices. Color profoundly shapes an individual's perception of the world and contributes to the meaning attributed to specific spaces, objects, and moments in society. The six-volume set of the Cultural History of Color delves into the creation, trade, use, and interpretation of color over the past 5,000 years. Each volume focuses on a specific theme, including color philosophy and science, color technology and trade, power and identity, religion and ritual, body and clothing, language and psychology, literature and the performing arts, art, architecture and interiors, and artifacts. Carole P. Biggam, an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Glasgow, U.K., and Kirsten Wolf, a Professor of Old Norse and Scandinavian Linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, serve as the General Editors of this comprehensive series. Volume 2 of the Cultural History of Color set explores the fascinating world of color in the medieval era.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 169 x 244 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350459946