'Sacrifice of a Hindoo widow upon the funeral pile of her husband'

Sati, the self immolation of widows on their husband's funeral pyres, was an ancient Hindu custom, banned by the British in the 1820s. Zoffany, however, shows it as a heroic act, designing his composition on classical principles based on antique bas reliefs. Two paintings of this subject were included in the sale of Zoffany's work after his death, probably including this example which was most likely painted in England after the artist's return (lot 81 at Robin's sale of 9-10 May 1811 had the title as given here, endorsed 'unfinished': lot 82 the same title but 'in a more forward state').
Both pictures are evidence of a fascination with native Indian life. In addition, two of his Indian group portraits show paintings of satis in the background, Colonel Polier with his friends, 1786 (Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta: exh. Johann Zoffany 1733-1810, National Portrait Gallery, 1976, no. 105, illustrated) and Colonel Blair with his wife, two daughters and an ayah (repr. Lady V. Manners and G.C. Williamson, John Zoffany, R.A., 1920, between pp. 110 and 111).
Zoffany went to India in 1783 in search of lucrative commissions from the new wealthy merchant class. He took with him a letter of introduction to Warren Hastings in which Lord Macartney describes him as 'the greatest painter that ever visited India'. On his arrival in Madras, he found himself inundated with commissions and stayed in India for over five years, dividing his time between Calcutta and Lucknow.