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 Persian illustrated manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot).
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a text page created in the Mughal Empire around 1560, its primary subject is the literary content itself rather than a figurative illustration.
This work is a text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama), a Persian manuscript containing moral stories framed by the narrative of a parrot telling tales to prevent his mistress from committing adultery. As a text page created in the Mughal Empire around 1560, its primary subject is the literary content itself rather than a figurative illustration. The work represents the Mughal court's early engagement with Persian literary traditions and the specific function of the parrot as a moral guide and storyteller within the narrative structure.
The page serves as a vehicle for the written word, embodying the cultural transmission of these fables during the reign of Emperor Akbar.
History & Provenance
The miniature was produced in the Mughal Empire around 1560 and entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view.
The work was commissioned as part of a Persian-language manuscript of the Tuti-nama, a didactic tale compilation, and is attributed to an unknown artist working in the Mughal atelier.
The page is recorded in the museum's catalogue under accession number 1962.279.261.a and is classified as a painting from circa 1560.
No further ownership transfers prior to its acquisition by the Cleveland Museum of Art are documented in the available sources.
Overview
The object is a single page from the Persian illustrated manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot). Executed as a painted sheet of paper, it is covered entirely with dense black calligraphic text arranged in tight, orderly rows. The page measures roughly the size of a standard manuscript folio and displays a faintly aged, warm‑toned surface marked by subtle brown specks.
Technique & Style
The script is rendered in a deliberate, flowing black hand, characterized by elegant curves, loops, and varying letter heights that create a rhythmic visual pattern. Thin red and blue lines run along the margins, forming a decorative border that frames the text without detracting from its legibility. The paper’s warm hue and subtle staining suggest an aged material typical of 17th‑century Persian book production.
Context
Tuti‑nama belongs to a tradition of Persian didactic literature that blends storytelling with ethical instruction, often illustrated with miniature paintings. Such works were commonly commissioned by royalty and aristocracy, reflecting both personal taste and the broader cultural emphasis on literary refinement during the Safavid era.
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
