[247] Alonso de Covarrubias, Maestro Mayor from 1534 to 1536, mentions among his works the removal of most of the Retablos, which, he says, produced a “detestable effect.” For an account of the Retablo of the principal altar, and the names of the men who executed it, see Ponz, Viage de España, i. 65. It was designed in 1500. See also the Life of Juan de Borgoña, in Diccin., &c., de las Bellas Artes en España, vol. i. p. 163.
[248] I find the following interesting account of the colours used during the different seasons of the ecclesiastical year given by Blas Ortiz, Descriptio Templi Toletani, pp. 387, 388:—
White.—The Nativity and Resurrection of our Lord, and the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Virgins.
Red.—Epiphany, Pentecost, Festivity of Holy Cross, Apostles, Evangelists, and Martyrs, and the Victory of Benamarin.
Green.—In the procession on Palm Sunday, and the Solemnity of S. John Baptist.
Saffron, or light Yellow.—On Feasts of Confessors, Doctors, and Abbots.
Blue.—Trinity Sunday, and many other Sundays.
Ash-colour.—Ash-Wednesday.
Violet.—Advent and Lent, wars, and troubles.
Black.—For the Passion of our Lord, and for funerals. And besides these all sorts of colours mixed with gold on the festival of All Saints, on account of their diversity of character, and on the coming of the king or archbishops of Toledo, or of legates from the Pope.