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The dethroned frog Shapur seeks the help of the serpent, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenth-sixth Night

Unknown

1560

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

The dethroned frog Shapur seeks the help of the serpent, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenth-sixth Night is a 1560 unspecified by Unknown, a Mughal Painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1560 · Mughal Painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A frog in a red robe kneels before a coiled snake inside a dark cave. The cave walls are stacked like layers of paper, and a twisted tree leans over the scene. This painting comes from a book of parrot tales made for Emperor Akbar’s court. The story is set in China, but the artist painted the rocks in a way that feels more Indian—thick shadows and sharp edges. The frog is asking the snake for help to get his kingdom back. To see more art from this time, look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605).

The story of this work

Overview

Shapur, who had long ruled as king of the frogs, was overthrown and exiled for cruelty. Seeking revenge on his political enemies, he sought the allegiance of a frog-eating serpent. The serpent’s lair is shown in cross section amid the heavily shaded rocks. A pipal tree ( ficus religiosa ), native to India, bends over the body of the frog. This story is set in China, and the emphasis on the layers of shaded rocks may suggest the artist’s impression of a Chinese landscape. Moreover, the snake’s markings appear to be those of a Chinese Mountain pit viper.

Read the full account in the museum source.