Artwork

The Raja’s daughter and her lover stoned to death for adultery, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-Second Night

The Raja’s daughter and her lover stoned to death for adultery, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-Second 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. This painting depicts a violent scene from a narrative cycle, showing a young couple punished for adultery.

About this work

You see a young woman lying dead in a pool of blood, her lover sitting beside her, arms tied, as men hurl stones at him.

You see a young woman lying dead in a pool of blood, her lover sitting beside her, arms tied, as men hurl stones at him.

This painting comes from a book of stories told by a parrot to delay a queen’s betrayal. The Mughal emperor Akbar ordered the tales illustrated, blending Persian and Indian styles. The bright colors and flat figures make the violence feel almost dreamlike.

To see more art from this time, look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605).

Overview

This painting depicts a violent scene from a narrative cycle, showing a young couple punished for adultery. It is one of many illustrations from the Tuti-nama, a collection of tales told by a parrot.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows the raja's daughter and her lover being stoned to death. The woman lies lifeless, while the man, with arms bound, awaits his fate amidst a group of executioners.

Technique & Style

The illustration blends Persian and Indian artistic traditions, as commissioned by Akbar. Bright colors and flat, two-dimensional figures create a sense of detachment, rendering the violent subject matter somewhat dreamlike.

Context

The Tuti-nama was a story collection illustrated during Akbar's reign. This painting is part of a larger series, reflecting the cultural and artistic exchanges that occurred in Mughal India during the 16th century.