The street cleaner, on his way to meet King Bhojaraja, sleeps under a tree where four thieves disguised as fellow travelers deprive him of a priceless pearl, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twelfth Night

Executed in a bright palette, the painting employs flat areas of color and decorative patterning typical of Persian manuscript illustration. The foliage is rendered with thick green leaves and pink blossoms, creating a stylized natural setting. Elegant calligraphic text frames the image at the top and bottom, linking the visual narrative to its literary source.

The image originates from a copy of the Tuti‑nama, a collection of moral tales illustrated for a courtly audience. The specific manuscript dates to the late medieval period, though the exact date and workshop remain uncertain. The painting is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, acquired through donation in the early twentieth century.

Tuti‑nama, meaning “The Parrot’s Book,” compiled stories that combined entertainment with ethical instruction. This particular episode, titled “Twelfth Night,” reflects the tradition of using vivid visual storytelling to complement the text, a common practice in Persian illustrated books that served both literary and didactic purposes.