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 single folio from the Persian manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Technique & Style
Its formal qualities include restrained composition, precise draftsmanship, and a muted palette that emphasizes textual meaning over decorative excess.
The page is a miniature painting executed on paper, reflecting Mughal artistic practice of the mid-16th century. It belongs to the Tuti-nama manuscript tradition, where narrative scenes were rendered with fine brushwork and delicate color modulation. The work demonstrates careful handling typical of illustrated manuscript folios, preserving the integrity of the paper support.
Its formal qualities include restrained composition, precise draftsmanship, and a muted palette that emphasizes textual meaning over decorative excess. The stylistic approach aligns with Mughal manuscript conventions of the period, balancing narrative clarity with subtle visual refinement.
The painting was created in the Mughal Empire and is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection (accession 1962.279.129.a).
History & Provenance
The text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) dates to circa 1560, aligning with the manuscript’s production period under Mughal patronage. Its creation history places it within the imperial atelier during the reign of Akbar, when lavish illustrated manuscripts were commissioned to consolidate cultural synthesis between Persian and Indic traditions.
By 1962, the page entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art as part of a larger acquisition, where it remains housed under inventory number 1962.279.129.a.
The page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, which lists the work in its collection under accession number 1962.279.129.a. The text page was produced in 1560 within the Mughal Empire.
No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This object is a single folio from the Persian manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Executed in black ink on a light‑coloured paper, the page is framed by a narrow red line that defines its margins. The surface bears faint brown discolorations, evidence of age, but the ink remains crisp and legible.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains only text, arranged in tightly set lines that curve and loop in an elegant cursive script. The narrative content, drawn from the collection of moral anecdotes in the Tuti‑nama, was traditionally used for instruction and entertainment among elite audiences, often serving as a vehicle for ethical instruction.
Context
Tuti‑nama belongs to a broader tradition of Persian moral literature that blends storytelling with didactic purpose. The work reflects the cultural emphasis on ethical conduct and the transmission of values through engaging tales, a practice prevalent in the courts and scholarly circles of the early modern Islamic world.
Legacy
Pages like this exemplify the high level of calligraphic artistry achieved in Persian manuscript production. They continue to inform scholars about the aesthetic standards, material choices, and educational functions of courtly books in the region’s artistic heritage.
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