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. This object is a painted page from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The composition is framed by a narrow decorative border incorporating red, yellow and blue pigments, and the surface bears a few small brown discolorations.
This object is a painted page from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Executed as a miniature, the sheet presents a dense block of Persian calligraphy rendered primarily in black ink, accented with occasional blue strokes. The composition is framed by a narrow decorative border incorporating red, yellow and blue pigments, and the surface bears a few small brown discolorations.
Subject & Meaning
The text on the page forms part of a narrative collection centered on a parrot that recounts moral and romantic stories. The meticulous arrangement of the script reflects the cultural emphasis on the visual elegance of the written word, suggesting that the page was intended both as literary content and as an object of aesthetic appreciation.
Technique & Style
Artists employed fine brushwork to lay down black ink for the main script, adding selective blue highlights to emphasize particular letters or decorative elements. The surrounding border was painted with a limited palette of primary colors, applied in thin strips that delineate the page’s margins. The overall style aligns with Persian miniature traditions that integrate text and ornamentation.
History & Provenance
The manuscript originates from the Persianate world, where such illustrated books were produced for elite patrons. The specific page has been conserved within a museum collection, where it is displayed alongside other examples of Persian book art, providing insight into the manuscript’s original visual and textual program.
Context
During the period when *Tales of a Parrot* was compiled, illustrated manuscripts served as vehicles for literary transmission and visual culture. The integration of calligraphic precision with modest color accents reflects broader aesthetic values of the Safavid and Mughal courts, where literacy and artistic refinement were closely linked.
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
