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 illustrated manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot).
About this work
History & Provenance
The Cleveland Museum of Art holds this text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama), where it is recorded as inventory number 1962.
The page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) was created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire, during the early years of Mughal manuscript production under Emperor Akbar.
The work is now held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, identified by the accession number 1962.279.269.a. No further details regarding its commission, intermediate ownership, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.
The Cleveland Museum of Art holds this text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama), where it is recorded as inventory number 1962.279.269.a.
The work entered the museum’s collection in 1962, aligning with the documented Mughal-era origin of the manuscript.
Overview
The object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot). Rendered on aged, yellowed paper, the page bears a block of text in a flowing Arabic‑Persian script, framed by a narrow red line and a broader gold border. Despite signs of wear, stains and minor tears, the ink remains clear, allowing the calligraphy to be read with ease.
Subject & Meaning
The written passage forms part of a larger collection of moral and didactic stories traditionally conveyed through the voice of a parrot. Such narratives were employed to impart ethical lessons and cultural values, using allegorical animal characters to engage readers in reflective contemplation of proper conduct and social norms.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed a formal cursive hand characterized by elongated strokes and ornamental flourishes, typical of Persian literary manuscripts of the period. The decorative border combines a thin vermilion line with a more substantial gilded strip, a motif that frames the text while signaling the manuscript’s prestige and the patron’s investment in visual refinement.
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