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 painted page from the manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The object is a painted page from the manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Executed as a miniature painting, it presents a single folio of text rendered in black ink upon a light‑brown paper surface, framed by a narrow decorative border incorporating red, blue and gold lines.
Subject & Meaning
The central area contains a continuous block of calligraphic script, elaborately stylised with ornamental flourishes. While the precise content is not readily identifiable, the work belongs to a literary tradition of illustrated storytelling, suggesting the text may be a narrative or poetic passage from the larger collection.
Technique & Style
The artist employed fine black ink strokes to compose the lettering, contrasting with the muted parchment tone. The surrounding border demonstrates a restrained yet vivid palette, using thin linear bands of red, blue and gold to delineate the page’s edge, a common decorative motif in Persian‑influenced manuscript art.
History & Provenance
The folio exhibits signs of age, including surface stains and discoloration typical of centuries‑old paper. Its condition indicates it has survived considerable use and handling, though specific details of its origin, ownership or dating are not provided in the available description.
Context
*Tales of a Parrot* is part of a broader corpus of illustrated literary works that circulated in the Islamic world, where text and image were integrated to enhance narrative comprehension. Such pages were often produced in courtly workshops or by itinerant scribes, reflecting the cultural value placed on visual embellishment of literary texts.
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
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page