The astrologer predicts a calamity for the newly born prince in his thirteenth year, but one which he would be able to overcome, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
1560
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1560
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a king on a throne, an astrologer pointing to charts, and a woman holding a baby prince. Musicians play in the background. Everything sits against a bright red flat space. This painting is from a book of parrot tales told over fifty-two nights. The story here warns the king that his son will face danger at thirteen—but will survive. The red background comes from older Indian painting styles, not the more realistic shading used in Persian art at the time. To see how other artists showed royal courts, look up *Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)*.
