Artwork

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

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 an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a courtly gathering in which a seated figure, positioned beneath a yellow canopy, addresses three companions.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

" In this illustration, King Bhojaraja is shown attempting to question four traveling companions to determine the location of a missing pearl.

The painting depicts a narrative scene from the Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot), specifically the episode titled "Twelfth Night." In this illustration, King Bhojaraja is shown attempting to question four traveling companions to determine the location of a missing pearl. The image captures the moment of the King's futile inquiry, as the companions are unable to provide the information he seeks.

This scene represents a specific episode within the larger Persian literary tradition of the Tuti-nama, which uses animal fables and human stories to convey moral lessons. The visual focus on the interaction between the monarch and the travelers highlights themes of authority, deception, and the limits of knowledge within the story's context.

History & Provenance

The miniature painting King Bhojaraja tries in vain to ascertain the whereabouts of the pearl from the four travelling companions belongs to a dispersed manuscript of the Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot), dated to the mid-sixteenth century, specifically 1560. It was created during the Mughal period under the patronage of the imperial atelier, likely under Emperor Akbar’s reign when such narrative cycles were commissioned for royal albums and manuscripts.

By the mid-twentieth century, the folio entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is currently held as accession number 1962.279.97.b. The museum’s records place its inception in 1560, aligning with the stylistic and historical context of Mughal manuscript painting from that era.

Context

The miniature depicting King Bhojaraja's futile search for a lost pearl among four travelers originates from a 1560 manuscript painting attributed to an anonymous artist. It belongs to the Cleveland Museum of Art collection, cataloged as 1962.279.97.b, and exemplifies early Mughal manuscript illumination blending Persian narrative traditions with Indian courtly aesthetics. Scholarship emphasizes its significance as a representative work within the Tuti-nama manuscript series, illustrating how 16th-century Indian painting integrated Islamic storytelling with local artistic conventions, thereby influencing later regional manuscript traditions.

Overview

The work depicts a courtly gathering in which a seated figure, positioned beneath a yellow canopy, addresses three companions. The attendants, dressed in vivid patterned garments, hold various objects and appear engaged in a dialogue concerning a missing pearl. The composition is dense yet organized, set against a backdrop of saturated reds, greens, and golds embellished with intricate decorative motifs.

Technique & Style

Executed in a miniature painting tradition, the piece employs fine brushwork to render detailed textile patterns and ornamental architecture. A bright palette of primary colors combined with gold leaf creates a luminous surface, while the flattened spatial arrangement and stylized figures align with the Persian‑influenced court aesthetic of the period.

Artist & collection

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

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