whether displayed in dresses, the background of pictures, or otherwise:
Black typifies grief, death.
Blue, hope, love of divine works; (in dresses) divine contemplation, piety, sincerity. Pale blue, peace, Christian prudence, love of good works, a serene conscience.
Gold, glory and power.
Green, faith, gladness, immortality, the resurrection of the just; (in dresses) the gladness of the faithful. Pale green, baptism.
Grey, tribulation. Purple, justice, royalty. Red, martyrdom for faith, charity; (in dresses) divine love. Rose-colour, martyrdom. Innocent III. says of martyrs and apostles, “Hi et illi sunt flores rosarum et lilia convallium. ” (De Sacr, alto Myst., i. 64.)
Saffron, confessors. Scarlet, the fervour and glory of witnesses to the Church. Silver, chastity and purity.
Violet, penitence. White, purity, temperance, innocence, chastity, faith; (in dresses) innocence and purity. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
