Artwork

The young prince recounts his experiences to his father, the king, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

The young prince recounts his experiences to his father, the king, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

The figures are outlined with fine brushstrokes and filled with flat, symbolic color, reflecting Persianate manuscript conventions adapted in Indian workshops.

The painting was created using tempera and gold leaf on paper, a technique typical of Mughal manuscript illumination from the mid-16th century. The composition depicts a young prince seated before his father, the king, rendered with delicate line work and muted earth tones, emphasizing narrative clarity and hierarchical scale. The figures are outlined with fine brushstrokes and filled with flat, symbolic color, reflecting Persianate manuscript conventions adapted in Indian workshops.

The support is paper, handled as a folio within a dispersed Tuti-nama manuscript, and the surface exhibits minor cracking consistent with age but remains structurally stable.

History & Provenance

Created in 1560, this painting is attributed to an unknown artist. It forms part of a manuscript of the Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot), specifically illustrating the Eighth Night where a young prince relates his experiences to his father, the king. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held under the accession number 1962.279.72.a.

No specific details regarding the original commissioner or the intermediate ownership history prior to its acquisition by the Cleveland institution are provided in the available records.

The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It is cataloged under the accession number 1962.279.72.a. The work dates to 1560 and is attributed to an unknown artist. No specific exhibition history for this piece is provided in the available sources.

Overview

The work depicts a young prince seated on a throne, narrating his adventures to his father, the king, within an opulently decorated interior. The composition includes a small table bearing a vase and a jug, and several onlookers observe the exchange, emphasizing the ceremonial atmosphere of the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The narrative focus is the prince’s recounting of his experiences, suggesting a moment of instruction or reflection between generations. The presence of the king, attentive and authoritative, underscores themes of lineage, counsel, and the transmission of knowledge within a royal court.

Context

Set against richly patterned tiles and elaborate décor, the work reflects the aesthetic preferences of a courtly environment where luxury and intricate design were markers of status. The inclusion of a Tuti‑nama reference indicates a literary source that was popular in the region’s artistic circles.

The young prince recounts his experiences to his father, the king, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night, Suraju

Artist & collection

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

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