Artwork
The lion returns to his territory and sees the monkey conversing with the lynx, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
The lion returns to his territory and sees the monkey conversing with the lynx, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
No information about the commission or prior ownership chain before its acquisition by the Cleveland Museum of Art is provided in the available sources.
The painting was created in 1560 in the Mughal Empire. It is attributed to an unknown artist. The work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains located.
The museum's accession number for the piece is 1962.279.194.b. No information about the commission or prior ownership chain before its acquisition by the Cleveland Museum of Art is provided in the available sources.
The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under inventory number 1962.279.194.b. Acquired by the museum in 1962, the work is attributed to an unknown artist and is associated with the Mughal Empire, where it was produced in 1560. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This painting, titled The lion returns to his territory and sees the monkey conversing with the lynx, illustrates a scene from the Tuti-nama, or Tales of a Parrot. It depicts a lion observing a monkey and a lynx engaged in conversation by a pond, set within a vibrant landscape. The artwork is one of many illustrations that brought the narrative of the Twenty-ninth Night to life, where animals often embody human characteristics and dilemmas.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork captures a moment of intrigue from the Tuti-nama, a collection of fables where animals communicate and behave like people. Here, a lion stands poised on a rocky elevation, looking down upon a monkey and a lynx. The monkey, positioned near a dark pond, gestures expressively, suggesting an ongoing dialogue with the lynx. This interaction hints at the complex social dynamics and moral lessons central to the Tuti-nama narratives.
Technique & Style
The composition places a majestic lion prominently on a rugged hillside, surveying the scene below. Lush trees adorned with distinctive red fruit and green foliage frame the central figures, while a large purple rock anchors the background. A dark pond serves as a focal point for the interaction between the monkey and the lynx.
The painting also incorporates a band of script at the top, written from right to left, integral to the narrative's presentation.
Context
This painting originates from a manuscript of the Tuti-nama, an influential collection of Persian fables. These tales feature a parrot recounting stories to its owner, often using animal protagonists to impart wisdom and explore human nature. Such illustrated manuscripts were popular, serving both as literary works and visual art, bringing the rich oral tradition of storytelling to life through intricate imagery and calligraphic text.
Artist & collection
- The lion returns to his territory and sees the monkey conversing with the lynx, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
The lion, suspecting treachery on the part of the monkey, slays him and flees, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
The Brahman comes upon a lion who has a deer and a gazelle as his viziers, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-first Night
The monkey advises the suspicious lion to cast off fear and take possession of his territory, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
The wolf and the jackal, serving as viziers, instigate the lion who pursues the Brahman up a tree, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-first Night
The monkey advises the suspicious lion to cast off fear and take possession of his territory, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
The woman conversing with her children, as the leopard returns, egged on by a fox who is tied to his leg, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirtieth Night
The woman conversing with her children, as the leopard returns, egged on by a fox who is tied to his leg, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirtieth Night
The wolf advises the lion to consult the cat, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night
The donkey, in a tiger’s skin, reveals his identity by braying aloud, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-first Night
The lion, suspecting treachery on the part of the monkey, slays him and flees, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
A woman with two children, having abandoned her home, goes into the forest where she encounters a leopard, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirtieth Night
Raja Durjan Sal of Kota
The wolf and the jackal, serving as viziers, instigate the lion who pursues the Brahman up a tree, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-first Night
The Brahman comes upon a lion who has a deer and a gazelle as his viziers, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-first Night
The hunter throws away the baby parrots, who pretend to be dead, and captures the mother, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifth Night