medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
In the fourteenth century in Wales, Franciscans were referred to as `brodyr
llwydion' (lit. `greyfriars'). Unfortunately, as the Dictionary of the Welsh
Language (GPC) states, in the Middle Ages, the adjective *llwyd* could mean
`grey, faint pale, russet, brown'. While this may seem to be an alarming
case of colour blindness, in this particular context, it's likely that the
colour of the habits to which the Welsh word refers was actually more grey
than brown.
Regards,
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Sarah Roark
Sent: 24 February 2003 21:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] Franciscan habit colour - grey or brown
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I'm not exactly up on my medieval wool production, but is it possible
that the variety of wool color in undyed wool is such that achieving a
perfectly uniform black or white involves a lot more labor than just
letting the colors stay mixed, which I assume would usually produce a
grey or some other variety of neutral (beigey-browny-whatever)? Thus the
idea behind the regulation of 'neither all white nor all black' would
just be that it should be the cheapest possible wool, no effort or
materials wasted on an effort to dye it or even separate out the
different-colored fibers? Also makes me wonder how many sheeps'
shearings it might have taken to make a single habit...:-)
Just musing, 'scuse me.
--Sarah Roark
-----------------------------------------------------------
"As for 21st-century dames being confusing -- that's only
if you can't handle a woman being your equal (or superior,
as the case may be). Since you've had since the 60's
to get used to this idea, I fail to see the dilemma."
--Judy McGuire, *Dategirl* (*Seattle Weekly* 2/12)
-----Original Message-----
From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Goris Dr.
H.J.M.J.
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2003 8:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] Franciscan habit colour - grey or brown
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
culture
On this topic one may take a look at an article (in German) of my
colleague Gerard Pieter Freeman, professor of Franciscan Studies at
Utrecht, 'Franziskanische Frauentrachten':
http://www0.ktu.nl/fsc/artikel/frfr2.htm
Freeman states that the Constitutions of Narbonne (1260) say that the
colour of the habit should be "neither all white nor all black". There
was no uniform colour, but only the natural range of colours of undyed
wool. It is only "in the last centuries" that brown became the
distinctive colour of the Franciscans. Gerard Pieter just said to me
that it was later than the 16th century. In his article he also refers
to Eduard d'Alençon, Il colore dell'abito dei Frati Minori, in:
Miscellanea Francescana 25 (1925) 3-12 Harm Goris lecturer in systematic
theology Katholieke Theologische Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
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