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Working with Colour

Colour is one of the most universal of all types of symbolism. The intensity of colour and its purity correspond to the purity of symbolic meaning, and primary colours to primary emotions, while mixed colours express a more complex symbology.

Blue in Jungian psychology is associated with the clear sky and stands for thinking, and the Virgin Mary’s robe is usually depicted in blue, probably because of her status as queen of heaven. Yellow and gold represent the sun, intuition and illumination; red represents blood and emotion; orange, fire and purification.

Green is a soothing, restful colour symbolizing nature, growth and fertility, and predominates in Christian art because it is a bridge between yellow and blue. Purple - a mixture of the fire of red and the calm and thoughtfulness of blue - represents power and sublimation and is the colour of the Cardinal’s robe.

Extract from “Celtic Illumination” Illustration and text by Courtney Davis

First published by Search Press (2001) PB ISBN 0-85532-931-9