Artwork
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The object is a single folio from the medieval manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot).
About this work
History & Provenance
It is classified as a painting and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession reference 1962.
The page was created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire, as recorded in its cataloguing data. It is classified as a painting and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession reference 1962.279.76.a. The work is attributed to an unknown artist.
The text page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, accessioned under the identifier 1962.279.76.a. It was created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire and has not been documented in any public exhibition history.
Overview
The object is a single folio from the medieval manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot). It consists of a light‑brown parchment page bearing black ink calligraphy, with selected words highlighted in gold leaf. A decorative frame of intricate vegetal and geometric motifs surrounds the text, and modest miniature illustrations are interspersed among the lines.
Subject & Meaning
The written portion contains a narrative or poetic passage, typical of the tuti‑nama tradition in which a parrot recounts stories of love, morality, or courtly intrigue. The gold‑highlighted words likely denote key terms or moral lessons intended to draw the reader’s attention.
Technique & Style
The script is rendered in a flowing, cursive hand characteristic of Persian or Arabic calligraphy of the period, executed with a reed pen. Gold leaf was applied to accentuate particular phrases, while the border design employs fine linear patterns and stylized foliage, reflecting the ornamental aesthetics of Islamic manuscript illumination.
Artist & collection
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
