The goldsmith and the carpenter inform the king of a dream in which the golden images plan to desert the city for lack of worshippers, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Third Night
1560
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1560
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a king under a red parasol, two men bowing before him, and two golden idols in a small shrine above. This painting comes from a *Tuti-nama*, or "Tales of a Parrot," a book of stories told by a parrot to keep its owner from sneaking out at night. The goldsmith and carpenter here are tricking the king—they claim the idols have left the city because no one worships them anymore. The real plan? Steal the gold. Look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) to see more of these vivid, storytelling paintings.
