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 work is a painted page taken from the manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The piece is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, accessioned in 1962, and exemplifies cross-cultural artistic exchange during the 16th century.
The page depicts a narrative scene from the Tuti-nama, featuring a parrot recounting moral tales to its listeners. The subject is drawn from Sufi didactic literature, where the bird serves as a symbol of wisdom and spiritual guidance. Iconographically, the text page illustrates a story of a parrot delivering a lesson on piety and the consequences of straying from virtuous conduct, reflecting themes of divine instruction within the Mughal artistic tradition. The work originates from the Mughal Empire and is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting combines Persian miniature compositional techniques with Indian color palettes, emphasizing intricate patterns and delicate brushwork. Symbolically, the parrot's speech conveys moral instruction, reinforcing Sufi teachings about humility and divine love. The text itself underscores the didactic purpose of the manuscript, using visual storytelling to transmit spiritual lessons across cultures.
The piece is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, accessioned in 1962, and exemplifies cross-cultural artistic exchange during the 16th century.
History & Provenance
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 and is classified as a painting. It currently resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1962.279.53.a. The museum acquired the piece in 1962, marking the beginning of its documented institutional ownership.
The text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, with the accession number 1962.279.53.a.
The work entered the museum’s holdings in 1962 as part of an acquisition, aligning with its documented provenance within the Mughal Empire and dating to circa 1560.
Overview
The work is a painted page taken from the manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Executed as a single sheet, it presents a block of text rendered in black ink against a light brown ground, surrounded by ornamental borders and flourishes that emphasize the visual quality of the writing itself.
Technique & Style
The artist employed ink on a prepared paper surface, applying the script with a fine brush or pen to achieve intricate, looping forms. The surrounding motifs consist of swirling lines and geometric shapes that frame the text, characteristic of manuscript illumination practices that blend calligraphy with ornamental design.
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