Artwork

Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night

Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night, unspecified, 1560
Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night, unspecified, 1560

Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work illustrates a dramatic episode from the Persian narrative collection known as the Tuti‑nama, or Tales of a Parrot.

About this work

History & Provenance

The painting dates to 1560, produced within the Mughal Empire during the early phase of imperial manuscript production.

The painting dates to 1560, produced within the Mughal Empire during the early phase of imperial manuscript production. It belongs to a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot) series, serving as the Twenty-fifth Night illustration. It is held in the Cleveland Museum of Art under accession number 1962.279.174.b. No information on the original patron, commissioning circumstances, or earlier ownership is documented in the available sources, and the work has not been recorded in any major exhibition history.

Context

Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night is a 1560 painting attributed to an unknown Mughal artist, housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a narrative moment from the tale of the parrot, reflecting themes of fate and divine intervention characteristic of Mughal manuscript painting. Its composition and style situate it within the broader tradition of sixteenth-century Persianate manuscript painting in the Indian subcontinent, where narrative cycles like the Tuti-nama were rendered with intricate detail and symbolic depth.

Overview

The work illustrates a dramatic episode from the Persian narrative collection known as the Tuti‑nama, or Tales of a Parrot. In the scene, a woman clings to a tree branch while a man leans over a rocky precipice, both figures rendered in vivid, contrasting hues. The composition centers on the tension between the two characters against a dark, atmospheric background.

Subject & Meaning

The painting visualizes the moment when Mukhtar attempts to cast his wife Maimuna into a pit, yet she manages to rescue herself. The woman's strained grip on the branch and the man's forward‑leaning posture convey desperation and conflict, emphasizing themes of betrayal, survival, and the moral reversals common in the Tuti‑nama stories.

Technique & Style

Executed with bold, saturated colors, green and red for the female figure, orange and white for the male, the artist employs a dynamic diagonal composition that heightens the sense of movement. The stark contrast between the illuminated figures and the shadowy backdrop creates depth, while the simplified forms and exaggerated gestures reflect a narrative illustration tradition rather than a naturalistic approach.

Legacy

Works derived from the Tuti‑nama have informed later Persian and South Asian visual storytelling, influencing miniature painting and folk art that depict moral anecdotes. This particular scene continues to be referenced in studies of narrative art for its clear portrayal of tension and its use of color to delineate character roles.

Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night
Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth 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.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night?

Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night?

Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night is associated with Mughal Painting.