Pompeii

About

Pompeii, the ancient Roman city steeped with art and culture, inspires Achille Salvagni’s latest work on view from March 2017. Evoking rich Pompeiian interiors with textures of shattered stone and marble, with an opulent colour palette of pale greens, earthy reds, burnt oranges, blushes and blues, Salvagni’s latest contemporary body of work revives this distinct architectural and cultural setting. 
 
The striking fresco from the Tomb of the Diver in Pompeii particularly struck Achille when he was conceptualising this show. Achille has paid homage to that painting by inscribing the famous figure of the diving man into the weave of the carpet in the second room. Achille has thus resurrected the emblem of the diver to signify the joie de vivre of this new interior. In archaeological Pompeii, the muted tones relay historical tragedy and the passing of time, whilst in his proposed space, these same tones celebrate the promise of a new Spring. The impressive centrepiece to Pompeii is Diomede, a cast-bronze console table with marble top, a fitting homage to a Neo-Classical painting of Villa Diomede in Pompeii. Diomede ’s base is crafted from 24 carat gold-plated bronze and forms a beautiful curve that sits delicately on two feet. Tato Chaise , another new work, is an elegant chaise longue in smooth velvet crafted from European walnut with a French polished finish structure and cast bronze details. The back of the chair recalls stylish aeronautical design from the 1920's and its forms take inspiration from a previous design.
 
Also making its debut in this latest exhibition is Gio L ouro Faia , a double door bar cabinet in Louro Faia with a polished and protected smooth brass top, inset handles and decoration. Gio
 Louro Faia has tapered legs in a burnished bronze. This latest piece is a new version of the now iconic Gio cabinet, originally designed in homage to Gio Ponti.
 
Assembling key signature pieces, Salvagni reveals how the ancient world continues to prove an unrivalled source of inspiration, with sophistication and restraint. The enduring appeal of materials such as bronze, marble and gold-leaf are made evident and run throughout Salvagni’s oeuvre. 
 
Salvagni’s latest show delivers a contemporary aesthetic rooted in the dramatic surrounds of Pompeii. Bringing together luxurious materials such as marble, bronze and walnut, Salvagni creates interiors with a feeling of permanence with historical detail that will captivate.