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. This object is a painted page from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This object is a painted page from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). The surface is a light, slightly yellowed paper on which dense black script fills the space, bordered by a narrow red line. No illustrative imagery accompanies the text; the page functions purely as a written narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The script records a portion of the *Tales of a Parrot* story, a literary work composed for Prince Salim. The text’s careful arrangement and the occasional red or blue highlights suggest an emphasis on particular passages, reflecting the manuscript’s role as a personalized gift and a vehicle for moral or courtly instruction.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy was executed with a fine brush, producing tightly packed, curving letters that interlock like a puzzle. The black ink is applied uniformly across the page, while selective accents in red and blue provide visual contrast. The thin red border frames the composition, reinforcing the page’s formal presentation.
History & Provenance
Created as part of a courtly manuscript for Prince Salim, the page later entered museum collections, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of Persian manuscript painting and calligraphic art.
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
Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot)
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page