A 19th century painting by Leroux of the Vestal Tuccia. After being accused of breaking her vows, Tuccia proves her innocence by carrying water from the Tiber back to the temple in a sieve—and not a drop falls through!
This is another legendary story that is depicted in many works of art. This is my favorite painting, however, as it gives us a larger view of the banks along the Tiber River (and it’s quite lovely, as are all of Leroux’s paintings). To perform this miracle, Tuccia calls upon Vesta: “O Vesta, if I have always brought pure hands to your secret services, make it so now that with this sieve I shall be able to draw water from the Tiber and bring it to your temple ( Valerius Maximus). The goddess agrees and Tuccia is absolved.