I know a couple of times this has come up so...

[isabelladangelo]

Teal in the 16th c:

They had what we would call teal/turquoise/aqua/whatever else you want to call blue-green. The following are just from the NGA:
Margaretha Boghe, Wife of Joris Vezeleer, probably 1518
Lucrezia Sommaria, c. 1510
Saint Anne with the Christ Child, the Virgin, and Saint John the Baptist, c. 1511

Comments

[sstormwatch.livejournal.com]

I think one of the terms for "teal" was "watchet blue" according to an article in last years Costume journal that had color swatches along with the article on colors from Elizabeth's gift lists.

I really gotta finish my loose gown in that color.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

Huh. I always thought that was more of a powder blue for some reason. Good to know, thanks!

I did find a few more paintings that have teal clothing shown in them. One is one of the many "wedding dance" type paintings showing the peasant ladies wearing teal aprons or dresses. I need to go back and take a picture of it because, according to the NGA website, they haven't put it online yet.