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). Executed as a painted page, it consists entirely of black ink calligraphy on a light‑brown, slightly weathered support, framed by a narrow red margin along the edges.
Subject & Meaning
The text records a narrative composed for a patron named Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal court. The story, conveyed solely through dense script, reflects the literary culture of the period, where elaborate prose was often presented in lavishly prepared manuscripts for elite audiences.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed a compact, elegant hand, filling the surface with uniformly spaced characters. The ink is a deep, flowing black, applied with fine brushes, while the faint red border suggests a decorative element typical of courtly book production. The paper’s patina indicates considerable age and handling.
History & Provenance
The folio originates from a larger codex created for Prince Salim, likely during the early Mughal era. Though the manuscript’s subsequent ownership is not fully documented, the page now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is conserved as an example of Mughal book art.
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
