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 single folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Executed on a light‑colored paper, the page is covered with dense black ink calligraphy arranged in tight, curving lines. A thin red band runs along the margin, and the surface shows slight wear, indicating age and handling.
Subject & Meaning
The manuscript was composed for Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal court, and contains narrative episodes featuring a talking parrot. The text, rendered in an elegant script, reflects the courtly taste for literary entertainment and moral instruction, with the parrot serving as a vehicle for storytelling and didactic dialogue.
Technique & Style
Calligraphic work is executed in flowing black ink, employing a cursive style typical of Persianate courts in the early modern period. The letters are curved and tightly spaced, creating a rhythmic visual texture. A narrow red border, likely applied with a fine brush, frames the composition and accentuates the page’s formal balance.
History & Provenance
The folio originates from a larger illustrated codex produced for Prince Salim, son of Emperor Akbar, in the late 16th century. The manuscript entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the 20th century, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s South Asian art holdings.
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
