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 page from the manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The work is a painted page from the manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Rendered in black ink on a light‑colored ground, the page is densely filled with looping calligraphic script, punctuated by minute connecting marks and a subtle red border along its margins.
Subject & Meaning
The text narrates a story addressed to Prince Salim, reflecting the tradition of personalized literary works created for royal patrons. The elaborate lettering underscores the importance of the tale and its intended audience within the courtly culture.
Technique & Style
Executed with a fine brush, the ink work displays tight, rhythmic loops that produce a continuous visual flow. Small dots and lines serve as ligatures, linking words and enhancing legibility while contributing to the decorative quality of the page.
History & Provenance
The manuscript was commissioned for a princely patron, likely in the early modern period, and exemplifies the type of luxurious calligraphic production made for elite readers. It now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among comparable courtly manuscripts.
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
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page