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. This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting's condition is stable, with no noted structural damage, though the paper support exhibits expected age-toning consistent with its age.
The text page from the Tuti-nama manuscript painted around 1560 demonstrates Mughal workshop practice of integrating Persianate narrative illustration with delicate brushwork on fine paper support. Executed in opaque watercolor and ink, the piece employs subtle tonal modeling and intricate line detail to render figures and decorative motifs characteristic of early Safavid-influenced Mughal style. The handling of space and compositional balance reflects the formal conventions of court manuscript production, where narrative clarity and ornamental precision combine to convey poetic content through visual rhythm.
The work originates from the Cleveland Museum of Art collection and was produced in the Mughal Empire during the mid-sixteenth century.
The painting's condition is stable, with no noted structural damage, though the paper support exhibits expected age-toning consistent with its age.
History & Provenance
Created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire, this text page originates from the Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot). The specific artist responsible for the work remains unidentified. The object eventually entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1962.279.54.a.
While the exact chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition is not detailed in the available records, its inclusion in the Cleveland holdings marks its modern provenance.
The painting is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection in Cleveland, Ohio, accessioned under the identifier 1962.279.54.a. It was created circa 1560 in the Mughal Empire and has been exhibited in the museum's galleries as part of its South Asian art holdings.
Overview
This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). The page consists of a beige‑colored paper sheet framed by a narrow red margin, giving the impression of a carefully conserved document.
Subject & Meaning
The surface is filled with black Arabic calligraphy arranged in orderly lines, presenting a portion of the narrative composed for Prince Salim. The text forms part of a larger literary work that recounts the adventures of a parrot, a popular motif in Persian storytelling.
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
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page