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 page from the illustrated manuscript Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
History & Provenance
While the piece originates from the Mughal Empire, the provided sources do not document a specific history of public exhibitions for this folio.
The miniature originates from a 1560 manuscript page commissioned during the Mughal period, depicting a text from the Tuti-nama. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art collection in 1962, cataloged as 1962.279.198.b, and is attributed to an anonymous artist working within the Mughal artistic tradition.
The text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama), dated to 1560, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 1962.279.198.b. While the piece originates from the Mughal Empire, the provided sources do not document a specific history of public exhibitions for this folio.
Overview
The object is a single page from the illustrated manuscript Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Rendered on light‑colored paper, the page is dominated by a continuous block of black calligraphic script, bordered by a narrow red line that frames the text. The inked letters are linked in a fluid, precise hand, filling the surface from top to bottom.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains narrative text, forming part of the larger story recounted in the Tales of a Parrot manuscript. The script itself serves as the primary vehicle for the tale, conveying the plot and moral content without accompanying images.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy is executed in a refined, cursive style typical of Persian or South‑Asian manuscript traditions, characterized by smooth, connected strokes and consistent line weight. The thin red border provides a subtle visual cue that separates the text from the surrounding paper, enhancing readability.
Context
Manuscript pages such as this were produced for literary works that combined visual elegance with textual storytelling. The Tales of a Parrot belongs to a genre of animal‑centric moral tales that were popular in the region’s literary culture, often used for instruction and entertainment.
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
Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot)
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
