Sumptuous Gaul Violet

Latin sūmptuōsus, expensive — derived from sūmptus (expense). As a color modifier, sumptuous implies a saturated-and-rich-and-luxurious quality, the deep-rich color of Burgundy-and-Champagne-Court late-medieval silk-and-velvet livery in the Très-Riches-Heures manuscript tradition. Sits at the bold-and-saturated end of the grid, parallel to opulent and lavish.

Latin Gallia, Gaul. As a color modifier, gaul implies a pre-Roman-French-Celtic quality, the visual register of Gallia-Belgica-and-Gallia-Aquitania pre-Roman-period hand-carved bronze-and-iron Celtic-Gaulish chieftain-and-druid surfaces under pre-Roman Gallia-Aquitania-and-Gallia-Belgica Celtic-tribal forest light. Sits at the modifier-and-cultural end of the grid, parallel to celtic and roman in usage.

Viola odorata, the European sweet violet — small, fragrant, and the original meaning of the color name in English (the Violet of the rainbow). The color refers to a fresh sweet violet blossom in late winter: a saturated, slightly red-shifted deep blue-purple with the matte finish of small five-petaled flower. Cooler than amethyst, warmer than indigo, with the perfumed weight of a flower used in Roman garlands and Victorian eau de toilette.