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 painted page from the Persian illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
History & Provenance
The miniature was created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire and is attributed to an anonymous artist. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains housed today. The work is catalogued as part of the Tuti-nama manuscript tradition, specifically as a text page from the illustrated narrative.
Context
The miniature originates in the Mughal imperial atelier during the mid-sixteenth century, reflecting the cosmopolitan artistic milieu of the Tuti-nama manuscript tradition. Its text page format preserves narrative function within a Persianate illustrated manuscript, while the attribution to an anonymous workshop aligns with contemporary practices of collaborative production in imperial painting circles. The work's presence in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection situates it within modern scholarly discourse on South Asian miniature painting, where it informs studies of narrative illustration and cross-cultural manuscript transmission.
Overview
This object is a painted page from the Persian illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). The sheet measures roughly the size of a standard folio and is composed of a warm‑toned paper surface over which black calligraphic text occupies the entire field, framed by a thin red border. The work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The dedication to Prince Salim indicates the text was meant for a high‑ranking patron, reflecting the cultural value placed on literary refinement.
The page contains a continuous block of Persian prose, written in an elegant, curved hand. Although the specific narrative is not provided here, the manuscript traditionally recounts moral and didactic stories featuring a talking parrot, a genre intended to entertain and instruct elite audiences. The dedication to Prince Salim indicates the text was meant for a high‑ranking patron, reflecting the cultural value placed on literary refinement.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy is executed in dense, precise black ink, suggesting a meticulous hand and a high level of skill. The surrounding red border is painted with a fine line, providing a visual frame that emphasizes the text. Subtle blue highlights appear scattered among the letters, adding a decorative touch that enhances legibility while maintaining the page’s overall sobriety.
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