Sati (the practice of burning widows)

anonymous, 1800 - 1900

Sati, ‘the virtuous’ in Sanskrit, refers to a custom whereby a widow is burned on the funeral pyre along with the body of her deceased husband. The life of a widow was unimaginably hard and a sati conferred status and fame on her family. British colonisers banned the ritual in 1829. Made for a European client, this painting probably belonged to a set of illustrations of ‘Indian customs.’

  • Artwork typedrawing, Indian miniature
  • Object numberRP-T-1993-244
  • Dimensionsheight 257 mm x width 190 mm
  • Physical characteristicspenseel in kleuren, zwart, wit en goud