Roll Out the Red Carpet

I felt like Matisse painting in bold red, black and yellow. This was step one of the carpet


A went over the underpainting with a fan brush to smooth and blend...


Finally, I went over the carpet with a number 2 brush and textured in color variations to give it the look of carpet.


A close up of the final product.

I chose to use the red carpet for the Knight because while he is still on his quest and has not yet reached the status of the King, he is welcomed by the King as someone important to and beloved of the King. The Knight's worth is great in the eyes of the King.

The history of the red carpet is quite fascinating. Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color combined with some blue, resulting in a tiny degree of purple. Because there is a tint of purple to the red, crimson is sometimes called purple.

In English, crimson is traditionally associated with the color of blood, and hence is associated with violence, courage and martyrdom. As far back as ancient Rome and Greece it was considered a color for the gods. And in Christian symbolism it represents the atoning blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The first record of a use of a red carpet is found in the story of Agamemnon, a Greek tragedy by Aeschylus.

In the story Agamemnon sets out to conquer Troy. In order to assure himself a safe journey across the sea he sacrifices his daughter to the gods. He is granted the safe travel, conquers Troy, and returns home to his bitter and vindictive wife.

Pretending to be happy to see him home, she orders her maids to bring out crimson robes to lie at his feet that he may enter his home as a triumphant king. Agamemnon, who adding insult to injury brings his mistress home with him, says:

Strew not this purple that shall make each step
An arrogance; such pomp beseems the gods,
Not me. A mortal man to set his foot
On these rich dyes? I hold such pride in fear,
And bid thee honour me as man, not god.

In the end he caves in to his wife's insistence and walks across the "red carpet" where he and his mistress meet their demise.

You can read the full text, or other info at:
http://www.gradesaver.com/etext/titles/agamemnon/

The earliest record of modern use of the "red carpet treatment" was at a ceremony welcoming guests onto a rail line in 1902. It is currently used more for celebrity status that for the honor of someone exemplifying courage or martyrdom. (Although I suppose the martyr would have a difficult time using the red carpet)