This engraving is titled “A Suttee: Preparing for the Immolation of a Hindoo Widow”, published in London in 1838. It depicts a solemn and ritualistic scene based on the now-outlawed Hindu practice of sati (or suttee), where a widow was immolated on her deceased husband’s funeral pyre. Set against a backdrop of temples and lush trees, the scene unfolds on a series of ghats (stone steps) leading to the riverbank. A large crowd has gathered to witness the ceremony, with many people lining the steps and temple forecourts. The composition features a central group—likely including the widow—surrounded by attendants and onlookers dressed in traditional Indian attire. The surrounding architecture is distinctly Indian, with domed pavilions and towering temple spires framing the setting, emphasizing the religious and cultural gravity of the moment.

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