Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page

This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot). The page consists of a light‑brown paper surface densely covered with black calligraphic text, framed by a narrow blue margin. Though catalogued as a painting, its primary function is textual, forming part of a narrative work.

The script records a story from the Tuti‑nama, a collection of moral and romantic tales traditionally recited in courtly settings. The particular folio was prepared for Prince Salim, a Mughal royal figure, indicating its role as a personalized literary gift within the imperial household.

Tuti‑nama exemplifies the Mughal tradition of integrating Persian literary culture with Indian artistic practices. Such manuscripts combined elaborate calligraphy, miniature painting, and decorative borders, serving both educational and entertainment purposes for elite audiences.

The folio illustrates the high value placed on personalized literary objects in Mughal courts and contributes to our understanding of manuscript production, patronage, and the transmission of Persian narratives in South Asia.