Title: La Vestale Artist: Vittorio Matteo Corcos Date: c. 1880–1885 Technique: Oil on canvas Place of conservation: Private collection
In La Vestale, Corcos portrays a young woman styled as a Vestale ("Vestal priestess"), dressed in an elegant classically inspired white robe that reflects the late 19th century fascination with antiquity. The garment is made of soft, flowing fabric that drapes naturally over the body, echoing the silhouettes of ancient Greek and Roman dress rather than the structured corseted fashion typical of the Victorian era.
A transparent gauze shawl is loosely wrapped around her shoulders and arms, adding movement and lightness to the composition. The dress is secured at the shoulder with a small ornamental clasp, and a subtle Greek key ("meander") motif decorates the lower edge of the garment, reinforcing the classical aesthetic.
Her hair is gathered into a low chignon and tied with a pale ribbon, a restrained and refined hairstyle that complements the idealized antique theme. Accessories are minimal, only a delicate bracelet and a bouquet of roses resting on her lap, emphasizing purity and grace.
The clothing blends archaeological classicism with 19th century artistic fashion, characteristic of the Aesthetic Movement, where designers and artists sought inspiration in antiquity to create softer, more natural and poetic forms of dress.
