The young man of Baghdad reveals his true identity to the Hashimi, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot: Forty-eighth Night

The work, titled The Young Man of Baghdad Reveals His True Identity to the Hashimi, is a miniature painting taken from the Persian manuscript Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot), night forty‑eight of the collection. Executed on paper with opaque water‑based pigments, the image portrays a white‑turbaned figure in a blue robe seated in a boat, surrounded by attendants of varied dress, against a watery landscape punctuated by trees and a distant structure.

The artist employs the traditional Persian miniature technique, layering finely ground mineral and plant pigments to achieve luminous blues, greens, and earthy browns. Delicate brushwork renders intricate patterns on the garments and the boat’s hull, while subtle gradations of light and shadow create a sense of atmospheric depth uncommon in earlier manuscript illustrations. The careful delineation of facial features and gestures reflects the courtly aesthetic of the late Safavid period.

Tuti‑nama belongs to a genre of Persian storytelling that blends moral instruction with entertainment, often featuring animal narrators like the titular parrot. The depicted episode reflects the text’s focus on identity, loyalty, and the complexities of social hierarchy in an imagined Baghdad. Such illustrations served both decorative and didactic purposes, guiding readers through the narrative while showcasing the visual sophistication of courtly art.