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 work is a painted representation of a manuscript page from the narrative collection known as *Tales of a Parrot*.
About this work
Overview
The work is a painted representation of a manuscript page from the narrative collection known as *Tales of a Parrot*. Rendered on a warm‑toned sheet that suggests aged paper, the composition is dominated by dense black calligraphy, its lines framed by a slender red margin. The visual effect mimics a fully occupied page, punctuated by occasional enlarged ornamental letters.
Subject & Meaning
The inscribed text belongs to the *Tuti‑nama*, a literary tradition of parrot‑told stories that circulated in Persianate cultures. By reproducing the script, the artist foregrounds the literary content rather than illustrative scenes, inviting viewers to consider the value of written narrative and the decorative aesthetics of manuscript culture.
Technique & Style
Executed in pigment on paper, the piece employs a monochrome black ink for the script, contrasted by a thin vermilion border that delineates the page edge. The hand‑drawn lettering shows a blend of cursive connections and isolated forms, with occasional enlarged initials that echo medieval illumination practices.
History & Provenance
The painted page originates from a 19th‑century interest in Persian miniatures and manuscript reproduction, a period when artists often created stand‑alone studies of textual artifacts. Its precise ownership trail is not documented, though it has been catalogued among works that explore the visual language of historic scripts.
Context
During the era of its creation, there was a broader fascination in the West with Oriental manuscripts, spurring artists to emulate the look of antique texts. This work reflects that trend, serving both as a study of calligraphic form and as a cultural bridge to the literary tradition of the *Tuti‑nama*.
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