Art History Festival 2023 | The Use and Meaning of Colour in the Medieval World

There is often a perception of the past as being a grey and monochrome place, devoid of colour and light. This is particularly true of the Middle Ages. However, interiors were not unadorned and grey, draughty halls were not sparingly lit to reveal bare stone walls and drab lifeless furnishings. The truth is that the medieval world was awash with colour and people took great delight in the bold use of rich paints, dyes, stained glass, enamels and textiles. The Burrell Collection is home to a wealth of medieval treasures that showcase the reality of a vibrant and colourful past. 

This talk by Curator of Medieval and Renaissance Art, Ed Johnson, will explore the abundance of colour in medieval Europe, its use and symbolic importance in both religious and secular spaces.

Location: The Burrell Collection

Event type: This is a seated, in-person talk. Spaces for this are on a first come, first served basis. This talk will be given in the central access core of the Burrell Collection on Level 0, near to to our restaurant. 

This event is part of the Art History Festival (19-23 September 2023), which has been organised with the Association of Art History. Glasgow Museums are hosting a number of talks as part of this programme.

This event will be interpreted in British Sign Language (BSL).