Artwork

The deceitful wife returns to her terrace after caressing her lover, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

The deceitful wife returns to her terrace after caressing her lover, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Shravana. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

This scene represents a moment of calculated deception within the larger frame story, where a parrot narrates tales to prevent a husband from killing his wife.

The painting illustrates a narrative episode from the Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot), specifically the Eighth Night. The subject depicts a deceitful wife returning to her terrace after an intimate encounter with her lover. This scene represents a moment of calculated deception within the larger frame story, where a parrot narrates tales to prevent a husband from killing his wife.

The work visualizes the wife's attempt to maintain her secrecy and manipulate her husband's perception of her fidelity.

History & Provenance

The painting titled The deceitful wife returns to her terrace after caressing her lover, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night, was created around 1560 by Shravana (active 1550s–c.1600). It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains today.

The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its accession number is 1962.279.67.a. The work has been exhibited in the museum's Indian miniature paintings gallery.

The painting was created in 1560 by the Indian artist Shravana. It appears in the museum's online catalog under the title The deceitful wife returns to her terrace after caressing her lover, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night.

Overview

Created in 1560 by the artist Shravana, this miniature painting illustrates a scene from the eighth night of the Persian narrative collection known as the Tuti‑nama, or Tales of a Parrot. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of courtly illustration.

Technique & Style

Executed in the miniature tradition, the painting employs a vivid palette of contrasting reds, blues, and golds against an orange‑brick background. Fine brushwork delineates the patterned floor, the leafy tree, and the architectural details, while a flowing Persian script runs beneath the scene, integrating text and image in a typical narrative illustration style.

Context

The Tuti‑nama, a collection of romantic and moral tales, was popular among the elite of Safavid Persia. Illustrations such as this one served both decorative and didactic purposes, reinforcing the moral lessons of the stories while showcasing the patron’s taste for luxurious visual culture.