Artwork
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The object is a single folio from the Persian manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The object is a single folio from the Persian manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). It consists of a light‑yellowed paper sheet bearing black ink text arranged in orderly rows. The page is framed by a narrow red border and marked at each corner with tiny red dots, suggesting a decorative or protective purpose.
Subject & Meaning
The inscribed lines form a narrative passage, typical of the *Tuti‑nama* tradition that blends moral instruction with allegorical storytelling. While the exact episode on this leaf is not specified, the work generally conveys ethical lessons through animal characters, especially the parrot, which serves as a vehicle for didactic discourse.
Technique & Style
The script is a flowing, cursive Persian calligraphy, each letter rendered with individual variation and occasional ligatures that connect letters above or below the baseline. The ink, applied with a fine brush, creates a deep black contrast against the aged paper, emphasizing the elegance of the hand.
History & Provenance
This folio is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its provenance prior to acquisition by the museum is not detailed in the available information, but the presence of the red border and corner dots indicates it may have been a specially prepared page for presentation or preservation.
Artist & collection
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page