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 leaf from an early manuscript known as the Tuti‑nama or Tales of a Parrot.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition features delicate brushstrokes and flattened perspective, reflecting the stylized formal qualities of 16th‑century Persianate court painting.
The page is a painted text sheet from the Tuti-nama series, created in 1560 using traditional Indian miniature techniques. It is executed on paper with mineral pigments and fine line work, typical of Mughal manuscript illumination. The composition features delicate brushstrokes and flattened perspective, reflecting the stylized formal qualities of 16th‑century Persianate court painting.
The work shows careful handling of space, with figures and decorative borders rendered in precise outlines and muted tones. Condition is stable, though minor fading is visible in the pigments. The medium combines ink outlines with washes of color, emphasizing the text‑image integration characteristic of the genre.
History & Provenance
This text page from a Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) manuscript was created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire. The work is classified as a painting and is attributed to an unknown artist. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1962.279.85.a.
The sources do not provide additional details about earlier ownership, commission, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum.
The text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is identified within the museum's records by the accession number 1962.279.85.a. Created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire, this painting is attributed to an unknown artist.
The available sources confirm its current institutional location and inventory classification but do not provide specific details regarding its exhibition history.
Overview
The object is a single leaf from an early manuscript known as the Tuti‑nama or Tales of a Parrot. It consists of a rectangular sheet of aged paper, its surface yellow‑brown from centuries of use. The page bears black ink calligraphy framed by thin gold borders, with faint blue ruling lines that once guided the scribe.
Subject & Meaning
The calligraphic text appears to be a narrative or poetic composition, typical of the Tuti‑nama tradition, which recounts moral tales through the voice of a parrot. Although the specific passage is illegible without specialist analysis, the work likely served a didactic or entertainment function within its original cultural context.
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