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King Bhojaraja tries in vain to ascertain the whereabouts of the pearl from the four travelling companions, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night

Unknown

1560

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Renaissance Renaissance Made for Prince Salim

Dominant colour

King Bhojaraja tries in vain to ascertain the whereabouts of the pearl from the four travelling companions, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night is a 1560 unspecified by Unknown, a Mughal Painting work, depicting Made for Prince Salim, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

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

About this work

You see a king on a golden throne under a royal parasol, four travelers standing before him, and a streetcleaner pointing at them in anger. This painting comes from a book of parrot tales made for Emperor Akbar’s court. The story is about a stolen pearl, but the real magic is in the tiny details—every face, fabric, and jewel is painted with sharp, careful lines. It’s like a snapshot of royal life in 16th-century India. If you like this, look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) for more art from the same time.

The story of this work

Overview

Having arrived at the king's court, the streetcleaner laments that his priceless pearl was stolen, but he knows not by whom. The king summons the four travelers, but in spite of severe threats, none admits to the crime. The king sits on a golden seat with tent-like trappings behind him while an attendant holds the parasol of royalty over his head. Unable to discern who stole the pearl, the king calls for his clever daughter "who was so intelligent and resourceful in solving problems that she had instilled humility even in cunning and sagacious men." She related a story. From each of their…