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 *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Executed on aged paper, the page is densely filled with black calligraphic script arranged in tight, orderly rows that sweep across the surface. A subtle red border outlines the margin, and occasional blue highlights accent the black ink, adding a faint chromatic contrast.
Subject & Meaning
The text presents a portion of the *Tuti‑nama*, a collection of moral and romantic stories traditionally addressed to Prince Salim. The narrative content, though not visible in the description, would have conveyed ethical lessons or courtly tales intended for the prince’s education and entertainment.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy displays a precise hand, with each line rendered in a flowing, vine‑like rhythm that maximizes the use of space. The script’s uniform density reflects a disciplined scribal practice, while the selective use of blue pigment provides a subtle visual hierarchy within the black ink.
History & Provenance
Created for Prince Salim, the folio originates from a courtly commission in the Indian subcontinent, likely dating to the early modern period when such illustrated manuscripts were produced for royal patrons. The page now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, which holds several related leaves from the same codex.
Context
Manuscript production in this era combined literary and artistic expertise, with scribes and painters collaborating to produce richly decorated texts. The *Tuti‑nama* belongs to a broader tradition of Persian‑influenced storytelling manuscripts that circulated among elite audiences across South Asia.
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