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The magic parrot of the merchant talks to the vizier’s son, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Tenth Night

Lalu

1560

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

The magic parrot of the merchant talks to the vizier’s son, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Tenth Night is a 1560 unspecified by Lalu, a Mughal Painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Lalu
When & what style?: 1560 · Mughal Painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A parrot sits on a man’s finger, squawking secrets to a young prince and his court. Around them, servants and nobles lean in, eyes wide—some shocked, some suspicious. This painting comes from a book of parrot tales told over fifty-two nights. The bird isn’t just chattering; it’s exposing a scam that ruined a bet between two men. The bright colors and tiny details show how stories were shared in Mughal India—no TV, just art and words. To see more art from this time, look up *Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)*.

The story of this work

Overview

The talking parrot, perched on the finger of the merchant, reveals his experience of being repeatedly traded for replicas. These many trades have spoiled the bet between the merchant and the vizier’s son. Members of the vizier’s court react to the story with shock. Together the two men ultimately confront the treacherous monk and their deceptive wives.