Artwork

Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night

Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night, unspecified, 1560
Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night, unspecified, 1560

Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a lively outdoor gathering set beneath a series of colorful tents.

About this work

History & Provenance

The painting dates to circa 1560 and was produced in the Mughal Empire as part of a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot) manuscript.

The painting dates to circa 1560 and was produced in the Mughal Empire as part of a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot) manuscript. It depicts Bashir confiding his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend who carries a message to her. The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it is catalogued as accession number 1962.279.167.b. No earlier ownership or commission details are recorded in the available sources.

The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. It bears the museum’s accession number 1962.279.167.b, which identifies it as part of the institution’s holdings of Mughal-era manuscript illustrations. The work dates to circa 1560 and was produced in the Mughal Empire, entering the museum’s collection in 1962.

It is classified as a painting in the museum’s records. No specific exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.

Overview

The work depicts a lively outdoor gathering set beneath a series of colorful tents. Central to the composition is a man dressed in yellow, seated on a raised platform, holding a cup and engaged in conversation with a figure sheltered by a red umbrella. Surrounding them are numerous attendants lounging on cushions, reading, or resting, while a backdrop of gently rolling pink hills, scattered trees and rocky outcrops frames the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The painting illustrates a moment from the Persian narrative collection known as the Tuti‑nama, or "Tales of a Parrot," specifically the episode in which Bashir confides his affection for Habbaza to a friend and entrusts him with a message. The gathering of characters and the intimate dialogue suggest themes of love, trust, and the social rituals surrounding the conveyance of personal sentiments in a courtly setting.

Technique & Style

Executed with a vivid palette, the artist juxtaposes saturated reds, blues and yellows against the softer pastel tones of the hills, creating visual contrast without overcrowding the picture plane. Figures are rendered with simplified outlines and patterned fabrics, while the tents display striped edges and decorative motifs. The composition balances dense figuration with open landscape, achieving a rhythmic flow that guides the eye across the bustling tableau.

Context

The scene is drawn from a literary source popular in Persian miniature tradition, where illustrated manuscripts often visualized episodes from the Tuti‑nama. Such works were typically produced for elite patrons interested in both literary and visual culture, reflecting the cross‑media storytelling practices of the Islamic world during the late medieval period.

Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night
Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

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Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night is associated with Mughal Painting.