Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page

Calligraphic execution dominates the surface, with a flowing, decorative script arranged in orderly horizontal lines. Certain characters are elongated, creating visual rhythm and emphasizing key passages. The ink is a deep black, applied with a fine brush, while the thin red border was added with pigment mixed on a separate brush, highlighting the page’s margins without overwhelming the text.

The leaf is presently housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it forms part of the museum’s collection of Persian manuscripts. Its provenance traces back to the original commission for Prince Salim, later passing through private collections before being acquired by the museum in the twentieth century.

Produced during a period when Persian courts favored richly illustrated literary works, the page exemplifies the integration of visual artistry and literary culture. The careful balance of script and decorative elements mirrors contemporary aesthetic ideals that prized harmony, elegance, and the seamless fusion of text and image.