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.
About this work
Overview
This illuminated page, originating from the Persian manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama), presents a block of black ink calligraphy on a light tan vellum. The text is framed by a narrow red border, and the surface bears faint spots and smudges that testify to its age and handling.
Subject & Meaning
The narrative inscribed on the page belongs to a collection of stories composed for Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal court. The tale, conveyed through elegant script, was intended for leisurely reading, suggesting a personal, perhaps didactic, purpose within the royal household.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed a disciplined hand, producing uniformly spaced lines with occasional darker strokes that indicate deliberate emphasis. The red marginal line, applied with pigment, frames the composition and reflects the aesthetic conventions of Persian manuscript decoration in the early modern period.
History & Provenance
The page has survived in a private collection before entering the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is now displayed for public viewing. Its condition, marked by minor wear, aligns with centuries of use and preservation typical of manuscript fragments.
Context
*Tales of a Parrot* is part of a broader tradition of courtly literature that blended moral instruction with entertainment for Mughal princes. The manuscript’s production coincides with a flourishing of Persian literary arts under imperial patronage, emphasizing refined calligraphy and modest ornamental framing.
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