The color orange has a complex and fascinating history. In medieval Europe, the color orange did not exist by name and was simply called “red” or “yellow-red.” The fruit that we know as an orange today was referred to as a “norange” in medieval times, derived from the Sanskrit word “naranga.” The color orange as we know it emerged gradually over centuries through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange. Understanding the origins and shifting meanings of the color orange provides insight into medieval art, commerce, science, and society.
The Absence of Orange in Medieval Europe
In medieval Europe, the color orange did not have a distinct name. The visible spectrum was divided into five main colors – red, yellow, green, blue and purple. The color in between red and yellow lacked a dedicated name. Terms like “red-yellow,” “yellow-red,” and “saffron” were sometimes used to describe shades in the orange family.
This was partly due to technological limitations in dye and pigment production that made creating bright, lasting orange shades difficult. The most readily available yellow dye came from weld, a flower that produced a clear, golden yellow. Mixing weld with a red dye like madder could yield orangey outcomes, but these tended to be murky and brownish. A strong, vivid orange was elusive.
Additionally, in medieval symbolism and science, orange was not considered a color in its own right. Colors were often linked to qualities – red with passion, blue with reason, green with nature. Orange did not have clear associations, so was nameless. The five main colors were also tied to symbolic meaning in religious thought, which did not include orange.
The Arrival of “Noranges”
The word “orange” has its roots in the Sanskrit word “naranga,” which referred to a bitter orange tree. The term evolved through Arabic and Persian translations, becoming “naranj.” By the 14th century, the word “norenges” or “noranges” entered Middle English referring specifically to the fruit.
The first orange trees came to Europe through trade routes to the Mediterranean and were considered exotic novelties. The fruits themselves were called oranges, noranges, or bitter oranges. But the name and distinct color concept of orange still did not apply more broadly to dyes, paints, or other objects.
Paintings and illuminated manuscripts from the medieval period reveal that orange hues were identified as variations of red and yellow rather than warranting their own label. Orange fruits and trees were depicted in art, but not given a dedicated color name.
The Influence of the Medici Family
The Medici family rose to prominence in the 15th century in Florence as bankers, politicians, and arts patrons. As one of the wealthiest families in Europe, they were able to commission artworks using expensive dyes and pigments unavailable to most. The Medici coat of arms featured prominent orange roundels, or circular charges. Portraits of family members increasingly used the vibrant orange shade.
The family also imported sweet oranges from Asia, which quickly spread from Florence to the rest of Europe. By associating this fashionable fruit with their house color, the Medicis promoted the use of orange and helped distinguish it from red and yellow. While the name “orange” still referred to the fruit itself, by the end of the 15th century, “orange color” became established in recognition of the Medici influence.
The Importance of Saffron
While orange was still not widely used in dyeing or painting during the medieval period, saffron emerged as an important source of rich yellow-orange shades. Saffron, the collected stigmas of Crocus sativus flowers, was an incredibly labor-intensive spice to produce. It therefore carried enormous value as a luxury good and status symbol.
The use of saffron gradually grew from Roman times onward, though its great expense limited it tonoble or royal classes. By the 12th century, saffron was widely traded across Europe. The vibrant yellow-orange coloring it provided came to symbolize virtue, piety, and nobility. While not synonymous with the modern orange, saffron provided the richest orange-like tones available at the time.
The Orange Revolution
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the color orange solidified its place in European culture, science, and art. Several key developments helped drive this “Orange Revolution:”
– **Treatises on Color** – In 1584, Michelangelo’s son published a treatise explaining the absence of a distinct orange in the classical color spectrum. In 1673, Isaac Newton included orange as its own hue between red and yellow in his color wheel. These influential works helped formally establish orange as a unique color.
– **Pigment Production** – New inorganic pigments like lead-tin yellow and antimony orange increased the availability of orange and reddish-orange paint colors. Organic dyes like annatto also helped dye fabrics bright orange.
– **Dutch National Identity** – The leaders of the Dutch Revolt against Spain adopted orange as a national color. William of Orange and his supporters helped popularize orange ribbons and other symbols in the late 16th century as signs of Dutch solidarity.
– **Heraldry** – Orange became popular in the heraldic symbols of Dutch aristocrats and eventually the British monarchy. The use of orange coats of arms and badges reinforced it as a prestigious, distinct color.
Orange Dyes and Pigments
While orange slowly transitioned from an unnamed shade to an established color, medievals still lacked a single dye or pigment that produced a bright, lasting orange. Some key sources they used to create orange tones included:
– **Saffron** – The highly-prized spice yielded a golden yellow-orange dye for textiles. Due to its expense, use was limited.
– **Weld** – Weld produced a popular yellow dye, which could yield a muddy orange when mixed with reds. But the results tended to fade and discolor.
– **Madder** – Madder root produced a red dye which could create orange hues when mixed with yellows. But the oranges were often brownish and dulled quickly.
– **Orpiment** – An inorganic arsenic compound yielded a yellow-orange pigment, but it was prone to fading over time with exposure.
– **Realgar** – This inorganic arsenic sulfide produced a red-orange pigment, but had issues with lightfastness.
Cultural Associations of Orange
Because orange lacked a clear place in medieval symbolism, associations with the color varied:
– **Deceit** – In some religious texts, orange was associated with duplicity and the devil. Judas was often depicted in orange robes as untrustworthy.
– **Warning** – Bright orange colors in some venomous animals and insects led to connections with danger. Orange lilies were viewed as warnings.
– **Vitality** – The vibrant hue of orange fruits and saffron associated the color with health and energy. Orange enameling was believed to have curative properties.
– **Prestige** – Among nobility, the difficulty of producing orange dyes led to its use as a status symbol. Orange garments required great expense and effort.
– **Prosperity** – The orange gems topaz and jacinth symbolized success and privilege. Bringing orange flowers into a home was thought to draw wealth.
Notable Uses of Orange in Medieval Art
While orange struggled to gain recognition as a color name, shades of orange did emerge in medieval artworks, often carrying symbolic meaning:
| Work | Use of Orange | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Book of Kells | Decorated letters and margins | Balance, vitality |
| Unicorn Tapestries | Background foliage | Life, growth |
| Medici Madonna | Madonna’s dress | Nobility |
| Belles Heures | Stylized clouds | Divinity |
| Scenes from Genesis | Angel’s wings | Spirituality |
Orange was sparsely but meaningfully used in these illuminated manuscripts, altarpieces, and tapestries before becoming better defined in the modern era.
Conclusion
In medieval Europe, the color orange existed ambiguously as a nameless, in-between shade, known variably as “red-yellow” or “yellow-red.” The limitations of dye and pigment technology made producing a vivid orange colorant difficult. Orange’s uncertain status in symbolism also prevented it from being defined as a color in its own right. Gradually, through trade, technological improvements, and the influence of groups like the Medicis, orange differentiated itself from other hues. By the 17th century, treatises by Isaac Newton and others formally recognized orange as one of the spectrum’s unique colors. The complex history of orange shows how cultural, scientific, and technological factors shape color categories over time. Next time the fruit or color strikes you as ordinary, consider its centuries-long struggle to earn a name!