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 presents a single leaf from a manuscript titled *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The work presents a single leaf from a manuscript titled *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Rendered as a painted representation of a book page, it shows black ink text set against a light beige surface, framed by a narrow margin. The composition isolates the page, emphasizing its calligraphic content rather than any illustrative imagery.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains a continuous block of writing in an unidentified script, arranged in several compact sections. The formal, cursive hand and ornamental flourishes suggest a literary or poetic text, likely intended for an elite audience familiar with the language and its conventions.
Technique & Style
Executed with careful brushwork, the artist reproduced the inked letters and decorative elements with precision, preserving the density of the original manuscript. The beige background mimics aged paper, while the thin border delineates the page’s limits, creating a restrained yet refined visual effect.
Context
Manuscript pages such as this were traditionally commissioned by wealthy patrons or courts, reflecting both the value of the written work and the status of its owner. The elaborate script and decorative details align with the aesthetic preferences of aristocratic book production in the region where the *Tuti‑nama* originated.
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