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
History & Provenance
No earlier ownership history, commission details, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum is documented in the available sources.
The page was created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire, as recorded in the work's canonical dating and geographic origin. It is classified as a painting and is part of the manuscript tradition associated with the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama). The work is now held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1962.279.227.b. No earlier ownership history, commission details, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum is documented in the available sources.
The text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama), created in 1560, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 1962.279.227.b. Originating from the Mughal Empire, the painting was produced by an unknown artist.
The provided sources do not document any specific exhibition history for this object.
Overview
This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Rendered as a painted page, it is dominated by black ink calligraphy that fills the surface almost entirely, leaving only a narrow margin at the edges. A brief line of smaller script appears at the bottom, likely serving as a colophon or scribe’s note.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains a continuous passage of Arabic prose, suggesting it records a segment of the narrative that the Tuti‑nama presents, a collection of moral anecdotes and fables traditionally conveyed through the voice of a parrot. The dense arrangement of text implies a focus on literary content rather than visual illustration, emphasizing the story’s didactic purpose.
Technique & Style
Executed with a fine, flowing hand, the ink work demonstrates a high level of calligraphic skill, typical of Persian manuscript traditions. The script curves gracefully across the page, maintaining uniform spacing and consistent stroke weight. The paper, now aged to a soft brown hue with faint stains, indicates the use of handmade rag stock common in the region during the manuscript’s production.
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
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page