Painting by the Swiss artist Angelica Kaufman “Portrait of a Lady in Vestal Dress”. The size of the picture is 91.5 x 71.5 cm, canvas, oil. Vestals are the priestesses of the goddess Vesta.
Vestals enjoyed great honor and many rights. When the vestals came out of the temple of Vesta, the lictor preceded him; under certain conditions they had the right to ride in chariots; for the offense they were subject to the death penalty. If the vestals were met on the way by a criminal who was led to be executed, they had the right to pardon him.
Due to the personal inviolability of the Vestals, many gave their spiritual testaments and other documents for storage. The vestal clothing consisted of a long white tunic and head bandage, from beneath which scythes descended, and with sacrifices the vestals were wrapped in blankets. The Vestal Institute existed until the time of Theodosius. At the latest excavations, the remains of the temple of the goddess Vesta along with the dwelling of the Vestals were found.
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