The color Feuille Morte is a fairly common color in the 17th and early 18th century, and has always been one that I struggled with trying to determine exactly what the correct color was. I have a Danish reference that shows it as a bright yellow-ochre, and there is a French figure in the osprey MAA 203 "Louis XIV's Army", plate C figure 2 which shows a more brownish-orange. I have looked on line and studied more than a few pictures with this being the best results.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/Color-Multi-color-French-color-chart-63_(1).jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/Color-Multi-color-French-color-chart-63_(1).jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)
However, I was trying to understand why such a wide variety of color choices for Feuille Morte? But there is one great opportunity for studying this subject - it is late fall and the leaves on the tree in our front yard was well underway of the leaves changing color and dropping for the winter. So, I got my camera, my paint chips and went outside to gather leaves and just see what paints best matched. I use the Methuen method of matching colors, so I gathered what I found were the three basic colors of leaves. After first taking a picture of the leaves on the tree, I then gathered three primary examples and after matching possible paint choices, here is what I came up with.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5334.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5334.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5337.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5337.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)
Apple Barrel Golden Brown 20524
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5343.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5343.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)
FolkArt Yellow Ochre 917
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5340.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5340.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)
CreamCoat Autumn Brown 02055
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5344.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh235/terry37photos/DSCF5344.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)
The bottom line is that there are several choices for representing this color, depending upon which color you prefer to use. And, for me I feel I now have a better understanding of what painted to use for the color Feuille Morte. I hope others of you who may have struggled with this color mind also find this little exercise of help.
Terry
You are right that there are a number of options:
Once source describes it as: "yellowish-brown color - in French, the term literally means "dead leaf." In English, feuille morte refers specifically to a brownish-orange or yellowish-brown colour".
Another as: "the colour of withered leaves in autumn, e.g. "dead-leaf". Scumbled ochre-brown & russet, fox-red and mustard"
The common theme seems to come out as: dull yellowish or orangish brown.
But I suspect that like a lot of naturally died colours it was probably not that 'fast' and so faded and bleached quite quickly - especially in a campaign setting.
Not sure if that is much help.
Mark
Try this - but I think it is too solid/clear a tone personally.
https://www.colourlovers.com/color/983309/Feuille_morte