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 single folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). The page consists solely of black calligraphic text, arranged in tight, parallel lines across a warm‑toned, slightly yellowed sheet of paper. A thin red border frames the script, and modest decorative motifs appear at the margins, indicating careful, deliberate presentation.
Subject & Meaning
The manuscript recounts a collection of moral and romantic stories narrated by a parrot, a popular literary genre in Mughal courts. This particular folio was prepared for Prince Salim, later Emperor Jahangir, suggesting the content was intended as both entertainment and moral instruction for a princely audience.
Technique & Style
The script is executed in a refined black ink, characteristic of Persianate calligraphy, with uniform strokes and precise spacing. The red border, applied with a fine brush, provides visual containment without detracting from the dense text. Small ornamental elements at the edges reflect the aesthetic conventions of Mughal manuscript decoration.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 17th century for Prince Salim, the page remained within the Mughal imperial collection before eventually entering the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its provenance traces a path from the Indian subcontinent to a Western museum, where it is now displayed as part of the museum’s South Asian art holdings.
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