Colour symbolism in two Majorcan poems of the seventeenth century

Abstract

In this article we will comment two poems that deal with colour symbolism. Both are to be found in a seventeenth century manuscript that is kept in the Arxiu Municipal of Palma. To focus our analysis properly we will make a brief explanation about the different meanings that have been attributed to colours throughout time and we will also give some other poetic examples in order to show how this subject has been expressed; by this means, we will be able to give support to our interpretation. One of the poems that we will comment —which is only a fragment— shows a clear influence of a composition of the Cancionero de Baena. Among our aims is to emphasise the interest in checking to which extent these poems’ symbolism agrees with the one shown in the examples.