Thanks on both answers.

With the black clothing in paintings I wasn't thinking of portraits, more group scenes. But the ones I'm thinking of may be a bit later.

Quote from: mollinary on 31 July 2019, 07:34:00 PM
And during the reign of William and Mary?

2 queen's colours?
I've been listening to the rumours again.

I have memories of reading about a black-clad guards unit in Ch'ao China. Pre-imperial days.

Quote from: Dr Dave on 31 July 2019, 07:05:28 PM
British infantry
Regt colour on the left
Kings colour on the right

ALWAYS!

... and not forgetting it's the same everywhere: ACW Union infantry - national flag (stars and stripes) on the right, regt colour (often the blue field with eagle etc) on the left.

And not forgetting that the Foot Guaaaards! King's Colours are the plain crimson ones and the Regimental Colours are the Union Flag...

Quote from: FierceKitty on 31 July 2019, 11:15:58 PM
I have memories of reading about a black-clad guards unit in Ch'ao China. Pre-imperial days.

Probably so - again - a guard unit so something special by way of uniform colours. I think the chinese often went for a blood red as a standard uniform colour for those rank & file troops issued with uniforms.

I don't know how the Chinese dyed cloth way back when - my knowledge is mainly around the C12th - C15th in Western Europe.

Quote from: Ben Waterhouse on 01 August 2019, 11:34:53 AM
And not forgetting that the Foot Guaaaards! King's Colours are the plain crimson ones and the Regimental Colours are the Union Flag...

Of course yes 

I really galls me when people paint beautiful figures and then get this sort of thing wrong. 

  It has been reported in The Daily Mail that wargaming is bad for your health. Apparently there has been a huge increase in death by apoplexy amongst the ageing wargaming community. Still hate seeing Confederate units in a Gettysburg or any other eastern scenario sporting western theatre flags and vice versa.

The reason so many 17th century portraits (especially of the merchant/middle classes) are wearing black is because it was such an expensive fabric, to show of how rich they are.

I did see one reference, but can't find it now, that some 17th century Dutch artists had a wardrobe of black clothes that people could hire for their portrait sittings.

One I have not seen mentioned yet is the color of Bavarian infantry coats in the Napoleonic wars (and possibly other periods as well)! Drives me up a wall when I see a bright sky blue coat! In looking at vintage uniforms it is easy to see that it is more of a darkish cornflower blue, almost like a faded pair of dark blue jeans.

This link takes you to a thread and if you scroll down you will see a vintage uniform and see what I am referring to.

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=335167

Additionally, the sky blue listed for the French, especially for their Hussars was not a bright sky blue either, but a darker shade, closer to Vallejo Dark Sky Blue.

Terry

Trying to wreck the one thing people (including me) think they know about Bavarian troops? What a spoilsport.

Rivers

Rivers are not blue.

Neither is the sea !

Mersey is muddy brown - due to the silt being carried down in it.

Quote from: Raider4 on 02 August 2019, 06:58:02 AM
Rivers

Rivers are not blue.

Except the Danube, and part of the Nile. But this is a geography error, not an era error.

Quote from: FierceKitty on 02 August 2019, 02:52:45 AM
Trying to wreck the one thing people (including me) think they know about Bavarian troops? What a spoilsport.

My Bavarians are in bright blue in two scales and shall remain so - wall driving up has become my latest passion. Also, I need to differentiate the buggers from the Prussians.