The Ambassadors, Detail

Fabric Color Myths

Myth: Pink is not a period color.

Pink is a period color, and even worn by men. For those who state that it may have been red, faded to pink over time, that may be true, although you can see a red behind him in the table carpet to compare. Also, pink can be got from an exhaust bath of a red dye, such as madder. Pink was more commonly known as Carnation, Maiden's Blush and other fun names.

The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1533.