Friday, February 22, 2013

Marie-Antoinette as a Vestal Virgin

By Jean-Frédéric Schall. 18th century. Vesta was the goddess of the hearth, home and family in the Roman religion. The Vestal Virgins were priestesses who maintained the sacred fire in honor of Vesta. The fact that the young Queen is shown as a Vestal Virgin signifies her role as mother to the people of France, as well as honoring the reputation for innocence and chastity which she had before the pamphlets destroyed it. More on the Vestals, HERE. Share

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