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The infant son of the king of Isfahan responds to music, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirteenth Night

Unknown

1560

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

The infant son of the king of Isfahan responds to music, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirteenth 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

You see a baby prince in a golden crib, dressed in bright orange, sitting up to listen to musicians. Other children sleep around him. The room is rich with patterns—carpets, pillows, and instruments in every corner. This painting comes from a book of parrot tales made for Emperor Akbar’s court. The artists worked in small teams, each specializing in one part—faces, fabrics, or flowers. The prince’s reaction isn’t just cute; it’s meant to show he’s destined to rule. Look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) to see more of these vivid, detailed scenes.

The story of this work

Overview

A group of musicians play a variety of instruments in hopes of eliciting a reaction from the young prince. The prince, dressed in orange, sits up in his crib to acknowledge the sound while the other children remain asleep. His eager response to the music shows that he is a noble child who will become a great king.