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 painted page from the Persian manuscript known as the Tales of a Parrot, or Tuti‑nama.
About this work
Technique & Style
The page is a miniature painting executed in tempera and ink on paper, typical of Mughal manuscript illumination from the mid-sixteenth century.
The page is a miniature painting executed in tempera and ink on paper, typical of Mughal manuscript illumination from the mid-sixteenth century. The delicate brushwork and fine line rendering emphasize intricate detail and a flattened pictorial space, while the restrained palette of ochres, blues, and reds contributes to a harmonious composition. The work shows careful handling of the parchment support, preserving its surface integrity despite centuries of use.
Stylistically, the piece reflects the narrative clarity and ornamental patterning characteristic of Safavid-influenced Persianate book arts, blending text and image in a seamless visual dialogue.
The painter's restrained use of color and emphasis on narrative detail underscore the formal conventions of courtly manuscript production. The condition of the page remains stable, with minimal pigment loss and no significant surface abrasion, suggesting careful archival storage. The composition balances decorative motifs with legible script, exemplifying the integration of text and image in Mughal artistic practice.
The Cleveland Museum of Art holds this work, which was created in the Mughal Empire around 1560 and bears the accession number 1962.279.9.a.
The technique employs tempera and ink on paper, reflecting the material specificity of 16th-century Persian miniature painting.
History & Provenance
The work is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it carries the accession number 1962.279.9.a. It entered the museum’s collection in 1962 as part of an acquisition that included multiple folios from the same manuscript.
This page has not been recorded as included in any documented special exhibitions in the sources consulted.
Overview
This object is a painted page from the Persian manuscript known as the Tales of a Parrot, or Tuti‑nama. Executed as a miniature illustration, the sheet presents a block of black calligraphy set against a warm, slightly yellowed paper surface, with a narrow decorative border framing the text.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains a narrative passage written in an elegant hand, suggesting it was intended for a distinguished reader. A brief segment of the text is rendered in blue ink, a visual cue that traditionally highlights a pivotal moment or moral within the story.
Context
The Tales of a Parrot is a didactic work that blends fable and moral instruction, popular in Persian literary circles. Miniature pages such as this one were often produced for elite patrons, serving both as decorative objects and as carriers of ethical teachings.
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
