Artwork

The invention of musical instruments from the intestines of a monkey, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourteenth Night

The invention of musical instruments from the intestines of a monkey, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourteenth Night is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

To see more paintings like this, look up *Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)*.

You see a monkey leaping between trees, its belly slit open. Below, musicians pluck stringed instruments made from dried intestines. The scene is small, packed with bright greens and golds.

This painting comes from a book of parrot tales told in Akbar’s court. The story says the first instrument was made by accident—then turned into music. The artists who worked for Akbar loved mixing real life with wild tales.

To see more paintings like this, look up *Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)*.

Overview

This small painting illustrates a tale from a collection of parrot stories created for Akbar's court, depicting the origin of musical instruments.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a monkey being disembowelled while jumping between trees, with musicians below playing instruments made from its dried intestines, symbolizing the accidental invention of music.

Technique & Style

The painting is characterized by vibrant greens and golds, showcasing the artist's skill in blending realism with fantastical elements.

Context

The artwork is part of a manuscript from Akbar's court, where artists were known to merge everyday life with extraordinary stories, reflecting the cultural and artistic tastes of Mughal India during Akbar's reign (1556–1605).