roman tunic madder reds?

[godfather]

From what I understand the roman tunics were typically dyed using madder root. What madder oil paint would be a good base to start with? I know that this is a broad quetsion but any advice appreciated.

 

[renarts]

madder can be anything from a rose color, almost orange, red, deep red, russet red etc. Depends on cloth, mordants used, conditions of cloth, weathering, wash etc.

A vermillion color would probobly work well. I've used vallejo 947 vermillion red or a Tamiya flat red for base coats on roman stuff.

Any oil paint used for shadows and highlights would then be that which best complimented the base acrylic I used.

 

[Tarok]

Articles on MedRom

Courtesy of the good gentelmen over on The MedRom forum, check out these links:

Red & Gold: http://forums.delphiforums.com/medrenfig/messages?msg=1832.1
Mike Butler's version of Maximus in Red acrylics: http://forums.delphiforums.com/medrenfig/messages?msg=1102.18

Gary Gate's "Reds" article: http://forums.delphiforums.com/medrenfig/messages?msg=895.1
Reds in Oils & General comments on Red painting: http://forums.delphiforums.com/medrenfig/messages?msg=1243.1

HTH

 

[vergilius]

From what I read I know the most highly ranked ones used the most precious colours; red or purple. So I wouldn't go for pink or light red. More a darker tone would be correct (as far as I know of course)
the average citizens wore the cheap tunics, broken white, beige..

 

[Einion]

From what I understand the roman tunics were typically dyed using madder root.

That's a myth, which we can thank early (B&W) Hollywood films for apparently.

Colour should normally be buff, off-white, beige, something like that (natural, undyed wool, linen or maybe even cotton).

Einion

 

[Tarok]

AFAIK red tunics were worn by average Legionaries from somewhere about the 2nd - 3rd Century AD. Prior to that it could have been worn by wealthier soldiers... centuries, tribunes, etc...