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 illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). It consists of a page of text rendered in black ink on a light‑colored parchment, with faint red and blue decorative lines framing the margins. Certain words are emphasized by red underlining, indicating a purposeful visual hierarchy within the text.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains narrative or didactic material typical of the *Tuti‑nama* tradition, a collection of moral stories featuring a parrot as a storyteller. The highlighted passages likely mark key moral points or quotations intended for the reader’s attention, reflecting the instructional purpose of the work.
Technique & Style
Ink is applied in a flowing, cursive script characteristic of Persianate manuscript traditions, while the marginal lines are executed in thin washes of red and blue pigment. The restrained palette and careful underlining demonstrate a refined calligraphic practice aimed at readability and aesthetic balance.
History & Provenance
The folio appears to have been produced for an affluent patron, as suggested by the quality of the materials and the elegance of the presentation. Its exact origin, date, and previous ownership remain undocumented, but the style aligns with manuscript production in the Persian cultural sphere during the early modern period.
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