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 folio from an illustrated manuscript titled *Tales of a Parrot* (also known as *Tuti‑nama*).
About this work
Overview
The object is a single folio from an illustrated manuscript titled *Tales of a Parrot* (also known as *Tuti‑nama*). The page consists solely of handwritten text rendered in black ink on a yellowed parchment that shows age‑related staining and minor tears along its margins. A thin, colored line—likely red or orange—frames the sheet, providing a modest decorative border.
Subject & Meaning
The manuscript records a collection of stories centered on a parrot, a common motif in Persian literary tradition used to convey moral lessons and courtly wit. Although the specific passage on this leaf is not illustrated, the dense, continuous script suggests a narrative or didactic segment intended for private reading or recitation.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy is executed in a flowing, cursive script typical of Persian or Arabic bookhands of the early modern period, with ornamental flourishes and punctuating dots that enhance legibility. The ink is a deep black, contrasting with the warm, yellowed substrate, while the thin colored border adds a subtle visual accent without detracting from the text.
History & Provenance
The folio originates from a larger codex produced in the Persian cultural sphere, likely between the 16th and 18th centuries, when such narrative compilations were popular in courtly and scholarly circles. The manuscript’s present condition—stains, tears, and a faded border—indicates long-term use and subsequent preservation, though precise ownership records are not documented.
Context
*Tuti‑nama* belongs to a genre of animal‑centered literature that flourished in Persianate societies, where birds often served as allegorical voices. The text’s dense layout reflects the manuscript’s function as a portable reference, aligning with contemporary practices of compiling extensive literary material in compact, hand‑written volumes.
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
