The prince, having deprived the snake of its natural food, a frog, feeds it with a piece of his own flesh, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighteenth Night

This painting illustrates a scene from the Tuti-nama, or "Tales of a Parrot," specifically depicting the Eighteenth Night. It shows a prince offering a piece of his own flesh to a large cobra, which he had previously deprived of its natural prey, a frog. The dramatic encounter unfolds under a bright sky, with another figure observing the prince's act of self-sacrifice. The enormous snake, with its hood raised and intricately patterned scales, dominates the foreground.

The painting employs vibrant colors and detailed rendering to convey the scene's intensity. The colossal cobra is meticulously depicted, showcasing individual scales and its characteristic raised hood, contributing to the dramatic atmosphere. Figures are clearly delineated, with the prince in white and yellow, and an observer in red and blue.

The composition places the central action prominently, enhanced by the bright sky and a tree, while script at the top identifies the specific narrative.

This illustration belongs to a manuscript of the Tuti-nama, a renowned collection of 52 Persian tales, often presented as a frame story where a parrot narrates stories over 52 nights to prevent its mistress from leaving her husband. Such illustrated manuscripts were popular in the Islamic world, particularly in India and Persia, serving both as literary works and visual narratives. The presence of script suggests its origin within a tradition of illuminated texts.