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 page is a manuscript leaf from the illustrated work *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama), created as a luxury book for Prince Salim.
About this work
Overview
The page is a manuscript leaf from the illustrated work *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama), created as a luxury book for Prince Salim. The surface is covered entirely with dense Arabic calligraphy, each line looping tightly across the page and bordered by a thin red strip. The paper shows signs of age, with uneven fading and faint stains that attest to its long use.
Subject & Meaning
The text on the leaf forms part of a narrative about a parrot, a common motif in Persian storytelling that often conveys moral lessons or courtly intrigue. Though the specific passage is not identified here, the work as a whole was intended to entertain and educate a princely audience, reflecting the cultural value placed on literary refinement.
Technique & Style
The scribe employed a precise yet lively hand, skillfully compressing the Arabic script into a compact, vine‑like arrangement that maximizes the page’s limited space. The ink, a deep black, contrasts sharply with the thin red marginal band, a decorative element typical of high‑status manuscripts of the period.
History & Provenance
Commissioned for Prince Salim, the manuscript exemplifies the patronage of Persian royalty in the early modern era. The leaf has survived in a worn condition, suggesting extensive handling. It is now part of a collection that includes comparable examples at institutions such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, which holds related pieces from the same tradition.
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