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 leaf taken from the medieval manuscript known as *Tuti‑nama* (Tales of a Parrot).
About this work
Overview
The object is a single leaf taken from the medieval manuscript known as *Tuti‑nama* (Tales of a Parrot). It consists of a page of text rendered in black ink on a yellowed parchment, framed by ornamental borders that surround the written line.
Subject & Meaning
The script presents a continuous narrative or poetic composition, typical of the *tuti‑nama* genre, in which a parrot recounts stories or moral lessons. The content proceeds line by line, each verse building on the previous, suggesting a didactic or entertaining purpose.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy is executed in a flowing, cursive hand characteristic of Persian or Arabic manuscript traditions, with careful spacing and alignment of lines. The decorative frame features intricate vegetal motifs and geometric patterns, applied with fine brushwork that complements the text without overwhelming it.
History & Provenance
The page originates from an early Islamic manuscript, likely produced in a Persian cultural sphere where the *tuti‑nama* literary form flourished. Its current condition—yellowed support and preserved ink—indicates centuries of storage, though specific details of its ownership or acquisition remain undocumented.
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
