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 folio from the Persian manuscript Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
History & Provenance
The page from the Tuti-nama is dated to 1560 and was produced in the Mughal Empire as part of the illustrated manuscript of Tales of a Parrot.
The page from the Tuti-nama is dated to 1560 and was produced in the Mughal Empire as part of the illustrated manuscript of Tales of a Parrot. The specific patron or workshop responsible for its commission is not documented in the available sources, and its ownership history prior to the twentieth century remains unknown. It is presently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1962.279.219.a.
The text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama), created in 1560, is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 1962.279.219.a within the museum's collection. Originating from the Mughal Empire, this painting remains part of the institution's holdings.
Context
This text page from the Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot) was created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire. The work is attributed to an unknown artist, reflecting the collaborative workshop practices typical of early Mughal manuscript production. Currently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, the page serves as a significant example of mid-sixteenth-century Mughal painting.
As a surviving leaf from a larger narrative cycle, it illustrates the integration of Persian literary traditions with emerging Indo-Persian artistic styles during the reign of Emperor Akbar.
Overview
The object is a single folio from the Persian manuscript Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Rendered in dense black ink on a light‑colored paper, the page is bordered by a subtle red line. The surface shows signs of age, including minor stains and a slightly yellowed tone, indicating its historic nature.
Subject & Meaning
The inscribed text forms part of a narrative crafted for Prince Salim, a member of the Safavid court. The story, conveyed through the voice of a parrot, functions as both entertainment and moral instruction, reflecting the courtly practice of using allegorical animal tales to convey ethical lessons to elite patrons.
Technique & Style
The script is executed in a flowing, cursive hand characteristic of Persian calligraphy in the early 17th century, with tightly packed, curved strokes that maximize the use of space. The faint red border, applied with a fine brush, serves both decorative and structural purposes, framing the text without overwhelming the calligraphic composition.
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