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. This object is a single sheet from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).

About this work

Overview

This object is a single sheet from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). The page is composed of black calligraphic script set against a muted, aged paper surface, and it is outlined by a narrow red border that frames the text. The layout is orderly, with lines of varying length that create a rhythmic visual flow.

Subject & Meaning

The inscription contains a portion of the narrative of *Tales of a Parrot*, a literary work composed centuries ago. The story traditionally uses the parrot as a narrative device to convey moral lessons and cultural anecdotes, reflecting the didactic purpose of many historic manuscript texts.

Technique & Style

The script is rendered in a lively hand, combining graceful curves with angular strokes that give the lettering a dynamic quality. The red border, applied in a thin line, serves both decorative and functional roles, delineating the text area while adding a subtle visual accent to the otherwise monochrome page.

History & Provenance

The page originates from a larger manuscript tradition in which stories were transcribed onto paper rather than parchment, indicating a later historical period. It is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among other examples of historic Persian and South Asian book art.

Context

Manuscript pages like this were often produced in workshop settings, where scribes and illustrators collaborated to create cohesive narrative volumes. The use of black ink on paper with a colored border reflects common aesthetic conventions in manuscript production across the Islamic world during the medieval era.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.