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The disguised Arab, substituting for Habbaza, is whipped by her husband for refusing a bowl of milk, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night

Unknown

1560

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Renaissance Renaissance Tent

Dominant colour

The disguised Arab, substituting for Habbaza, is whipped by her husband for refusing a bowl of milk, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night is a 1560 unspecified by Unknown, a Mughal Painting work, depicting Tent, 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 woman in a striped robe is tied to a post while a man whips her. A small crowd watches under a tent. This painting is from a storybook called the *Tuti-nama*, or *Tales of a Parrot*. The woman isn’t really Habbaza—it’s her lover’s friend in disguise. The husband thinks she’s refusing his milk, but she’s just playing a trick. The artist shows the moment when the trick goes wrong. If you want to see more art like this, look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605).

The story of this work

Overview

While Habbaza is away carrying on an affair with her lover Bashir, Bashir’s friend dresses in Habbaza’s clothes and waits in her tent. Each night, Habbaza’s husband offers her milk and when she refuses, leaves her in peace. This time, however, he becomes enraged at her silence and lashes out.