Die Farbe Schwarz

In Pompeji:

The next step up from grey is black. Black has been popular with artists for a very long time. Appelles is regarded by many as the finest painter in antiquity – and is admired for his mastery of the colour black. With infallible flair, he painted walls solely in the colours of black, yellow, red and white. And he was such a master of his craft that debate even raged about whether other colours should be used at all

IN THE MODERN AGE:

Black is the classic choice when it comes to making something appear elegant and sophisticated. That’s why many luxury items rely on the dependability offered by black. Understated luxury goes hand in hand with black. Black, especially in a matt finish, remains a firm favourite in the luxury segment.

IN THE HOME:

Black creates sharp contrasts in a room, similar to those witnessed in black-and-white photography. In other words, it influences how we perceive a room. The lighter areas of the room are highlighted, whereas the darker ones withdraw into the background. This comes in handy whenever you want to ‘conceal’ something. In relation to a black wall, experts refer to ‘off-black’ – a tone that is often used as an artistic stage.

Our Black

Velia:

The gens Velia do not appear in Roman history until the downfall of Pompeii. The Latin word velare means ‘to cloak’, but also ‘to clothe’ and ‘to decorate’ – just like Velia, a shade that can be used to either conceal or adorn. We know nothing about the female members of the gens Velia family. They have remained in the background. Velia has concealed its own history and remains mysterious – just like the colour black.