The deceitful wife returns to her terrace after caressing her lover, 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
A woman in a red dress steps back onto her balcony, adjusting her veil. Below, a man in green looks up, his hand still raised from their secret touch. The scene is small, packed with tiny details—flowers, tiles, even the folds of her sash. This painting comes from a book of parrot tales told to a king. Each story warns against trusting accusations without proof. The artist shows the moment right after the woman’s betrayal, her face calm but her body tense. To see more art like this, look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605).
