medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>Does anyone know how, when and why the color blue came to be so
intimately associated with the BVM, Titian's "Assumption" notwithstanding?
The answer could be something like the chicken and egg in terms of which
came first, general qualities or Mary's. That repository of
miscellaneous meaning, Brewer's Phrase and Fable (14th ed., 1989, in
hand), under Colours (p. 255-56), lists blue associations:
Hope, love of divine works; (in dresses) divine contemplation, piety,
sincerity.
In blazonry, azure, signifying chastity, loyalty, fidelity...
In art (as an angel's robe)...fidelity and faith; (as in the robe of the
Virgin Mary) modesty...(in the Catholic Church) humility and expiation.
In Church decoration, blue and green were used indifferently for
ordinary Sundays in the pre-Reformation Church.
As a mortuary colour it signifies eterity (applied to a Deity),
immortality (applied to man)...
Meanwhile, pale blue signifies:
Peace, Christian prudence, love of good works, a serene conscience.
--
BTW Oxford's color is dark blue, Cambridge's light blue.
Cheers,
Al Magary
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