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 illuminated page originates from the manuscript Tales of a Parrot, a narrative composed for Prince Salim.
About this work
History & Provenance
The available records confirm its location and inventory details but do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history for this folio.
The page was produced in 1560 within the Mughal Empire, as recorded in its cataloguing data. It is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is accessioned under the number 1962.279.229.a. No further details on its commission, earlier ownership, or chain of custody are documented in the available sources.
The text page from the Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama) is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The institution assigns the work the accession number 1962.279.229.a. Created in 1560 within the Mughal Empire, the piece is classified as a painting.
The available records confirm its location and inventory details but do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history for this folio.
Context
The page belongs to a 1560 Tuti-nama manuscript produced in the Mughal Empire and preserved in the Cleveland Museum of Art. Scholars view it as an example of early Mughal narrative painting, in which Persian literary text and image intertwine to convey moral tales. The work is frequently cited in studies of Mughal artistic patronage and the diffusion of Persian literary motifs into Indian court culture. Its attribution to an unknown artist reflects the anonymous workshop practice common in sixteenth‑century manuscript production.
Overview
This illuminated page originates from the manuscript Tales of a Parrot, a narrative composed for Prince Salim. Executed on warm, aged paper, the sheet features dense black calligraphy arranged in orderly rows, bordered by a slender red strip that frames the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The inscribed verses convey a segment of the Tales of a Parrot story, a literary work intended for princely patronage. The meticulous hand reflects the high regard afforded to the text and its intended audience.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed black ink of varying thickness, producing a subtle visual rhythm across the lines. A thin vermilion border delineates the page edges, while the overall layout emphasizes clarity and elegance typical of courtly manuscripts.
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
