This is one of Herculaneum's more luxurious mansions. It is characterised by a vast painted hall, decorated with elegant architectural motifs of the Fourth Style against a black background.

In a room near the atrium, twenty wax tablets were discovered bearing the name of L. Venidus Enniychus, probably the owner, as well as a number of texts concerning his eligibilty for public office.

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Several structures within the building are well preserved, among them the wooden entrance door frame (pictured above) on the Decumanus Maximus.

The grand main entrance on the Decumanus Maximus opens onto an atrium (A) with central impluvium having cubicula on either side. At the rear of the atrium is a large tablinum (B) which opens directly onto a peristyle (C) with a small central garden. The pillars surrounding the garden are composed of stuccoed brickwork with the paving in black and white mosaic.
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Opening off the right side of the peristyle is the 'black hall' (D) after which to house is named. The decoration consists of architectural motifs in the fourth style on a black background.

The rooms which open off the south side of the peristyle have similar fourth style decoration, but this time on a light background. The right hand (looking south) of these rooms leads through to a lararium (pictured below) on the rear wall..
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