Artwork
The lion disturbed by mice who eat the food trapped in his aging teeth, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night
The lion disturbed by mice who eat the food trapped in his aging teeth, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work, titled *The lion disturbed by mice who eat the food trapped in his aging teeth, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night*, is a painted composition that portrays a large feline reclining on a rocky ledge. Behind the animal a solitary tree and a body of water extend into the distance, creating a tranquil landscape setting.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a lion rendered in orange and black stripes, appears caught in a moment of uneasy rest, suggested by the title’s reference to mice gnawing at his teeth. The juxtaposition of the powerful predator with diminutive rodents hints at themes of vulnerability, decay, and the inevitable passage of time.
Technique & Style
Executed with a palette that balances warm pink‑white rocks, cool blues of water, and the vivid orange of the lion’s coat, the painting employs layered brushwork to convey depth. The composition guides the eye from the foreground animal to the receding landscape, while subtle tonal shifts generate a calm, atmospheric mood.
History & Provenance
The piece originates from the *Tuti‑nama*, a collection of illustrated tales traditionally associated with a parrot narrator. It is identified as the fifteenth night of the narrative sequence, though specific details of its creation, such as date or artist, are not recorded in the available documentation.
Context
Within the broader tradition of illustrated storytelling, the painting reflects the Persian‑influenced miniature aesthetic that often combined animal allegory with moral instruction. The serene natural backdrop aligns with the genre’s tendency to situate didactic scenes within idealized, harmonious environments.
Legacy
Although the work is not widely cited in major art historical surveys, it remains an example of narrative painting that merges literary content with visual representation, illustrating how animal motifs were employed to convey philosophical reflections in pre‑modern manuscript art.
Artist & collection
The wolf advises the lion to consult the cat, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night
The Brahman comes upon a lion who has a deer and a gazelle as his viziers, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-first Night
The monkey advises the suspicious lion to cast off fear and take possession of his territory, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
The monkey, serving as the lion’s chamberlain, converses with the lynx and its mate who have arrived with their cubs to settle in the lion’s domain, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
The invention of musical instruments from the intestines of a monkey, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourteenth Night
The lion, suspecting treachery on the part of the monkey, slays him and flees, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night
