Artwork
The daughter of the merchant of Mazanderan asks the gardener for the rose, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night

The daughter of the merchant of Mazanderan asks the gardener for the rose, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The miniature illustrates a brief episode from the Persian collection Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot).
About this work
History & Provenance
Its creation reflects the cultural exchange between Persian artistic traditions and Mughal patronage in the mid-16th century.
A miniature painting titled The daughter of the merchant of Mazanderan asks the gardener for the rose, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night was created in 1560 in the Mughal Empire. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view.
The work was commissioned as part of an illustrated manuscript of the Tuti-nama, a Persian narrative cycle. Its creation reflects the cultural exchange between Persian artistic traditions and Mughal patronage in the mid-16th century.
The painting is attributed to an unknown artist and is catalogued in the museum's collection under accession number 1962.279.98.b.
The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, as indicated by its inventory designation 1962.279.98.b. It was produced in 1560 within the Mughal Empire and entered the museum's collection, where it remains part of the holdings. No further exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Context
The painting depicting the daughter of the merchant of Mazanderan requesting a rose from a gardener, illustrated within the narrative of Twelfth Night from the Tuti-nama, was created circa 1560 in Mughal India. It is attributed to an anonymous artist and currently resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 1962.279.98.b. The work is classified as a Mughal miniature painting, reflecting the synthesis of Persian narrative traditions with Indian artistic conventions during the 16th century. Its composition and stylistic elements contribute to scholarly understanding of cross-cultural storytelling in manuscript illumination, situating it within broader discussions of narrative art in pre-modern manuscript cultures.
Legacy
The work's legacy is anchored in its inclusion in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection, where it is catalogued as a 1560 Mughal painting attributed to an unknown artist. Its attribution to the Tuti-nama manuscript tradition has informed scholarly studies of Safavid artistic influence in the Mughal period, particularly regarding narrative cycles in Persian miniature painting. The piece remains accessible to the public through the museum's digital catalogue, preserving its role in the study of 16th-century Persianate artistic exchange.
Overview
The miniature illustrates a brief episode from the Persian collection Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot). In the lower register a woman in a vivid red garment extends her hand toward a gardener who is gathering blossoms, while other female figures observe. The setting is a dimly lit garden populated by tall foliage and white flowers, suggesting an intimate, narrative moment.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts the daughter of a Mazandaran merchant requesting a rose from a gardener, a motif drawn from the Twelfth Night episode of the Tuti‑nama. The interaction emphasizes themes of desire and courtship common in Persian fable literature, where a modest request for a flower can symbolize broader social or romantic negotiations.
Technique & Style
Executed in the miniature tradition, the work employs delicate brushwork and a limited palette dominated by red, green, and white. The figures are rendered with stylized proportions and fine linear detailing, while the background foliage is suggested through washes and ornamental patterns, characteristic of Safavid‑era manuscript illumination.
Artist & collection










