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A vestal of –93, trying on the cestus of Venus
A vestal of –93, trying on the cestus of Venus

A vestal of –93, trying on the cestus of Venus

Primary (London, England, 1757–1815)
NationalityEnglish, Europe
Date1793
MediumEtching and aquatint
DimensionsSheet: 13 5/16 × 15 13/16 in. (33.8 × 40.1 cm)
Additional Dimension: 12 3/16 × 14 3/4 in. (31 × 37.5 cm)
Credit LineBlanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin, Archer M. Huntington Museum Fund, 2002.2820
Collection AreaPrints and Drawings
Object number2002.2820
On View
Not on view
Label Text
Vestal Virgins were female priestesses in ancient Rome who were responsible for maintaining the sacred fire in the temple of Vesta. In this print, an inattentive priestess and her three clumsy putti have knocked over her altar while trying to tie on the cestus of Venus, a band meant to awaken love. A parody on this peculiar fashion trend in 1793, this love-starved woman remains unappealing even with the aid of the cestus.
Exhibitions