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Artwork

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, unspecified, 1560
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, unspecified, 1560

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 work is a single page from the illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).

About this work

Overview

The work is a single page from the illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Executed as a painted page, it presents a continuous block of black ink set against a light‑brown ground, the text arranged in a flowing, curved hand that fills the surface in an orderly fashion.

Subject & Meaning

The page contains narrative text, likely a segment of the moral or romantic story that the Tuti‑nama conveys. The script’s smooth, winding lines suggest a literary focus rather than a decorative illustration, emphasizing the tale’s verbal content.

Technique & Style

The calligraphic composition is rendered in black ink whose line weight varies subtly, imparting a sense of movement and liveliness to the letters. A delicate border frames the page, composed of thin strips in red, yellow and blue, providing a modest decorative accent without overwhelming the text.

Context

Manuscript pages such as this were produced in the Persianate world, where illustrated books combined literary storytelling with refined visual design. The use of a light brown background and restrained color palette reflects a typical aesthetic of courtly manuscripts intended for private reading or elite patronage.

Artist & collection

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.