Open full image Pin

The prince, a son of the ruler of Sistan, enters the service of a snake, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-seventh Night

Unknown

1560

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

The prince, a son of the ruler of Sistan, enters the service of a snake, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-seventh 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

A prince kneels on rocky ground while a giant black snake coils up from a hole in front of him. The prince wears a simple robe; the snake’s scales glint in the light. This scene comes from a book of parrot tales made for Emperor Akbar’s court. The prince had promised to serve the first creature he met—even if it was a snake. The snake tests him, but the prince keeps his word and is later rewarded. To see more stories from this book, look up court of akbar (reigned 1556–1605).

The story of this work

Overview

A black snake rises from a hole to greet the prince of Sistan, in southeastern Iran. The prince, who had been wandering destitute through the wilderness has made a vow to serve the next living creature he meets. Although the snake is initially skeptical, he agrees to the arrangement and the prince is ultimately rewarded for his loyalty.