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.
About this work
Overview
This manuscript leaf, part of the illustrated work known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama), consists of a single paper page covered in dense black calligraphic script. The surface is lightly yellowed with a narrow red border framing its edges, and minor wear marks indicate age and handling.
Subject & Meaning
The text, arranged in orderly rows, forms part of a narrative intended for a patron named Prince Salim. While the specific story on this page is not provided, the Tuti‑nama tradition typically conveys moral or romantic tales drawn from Persian literary sources.
Technique & Style
The script is rendered in a fine, uniform hand characteristic of Persian courtly manuscripts, using black ink on paper. The red marginal line serves both decorative and protective functions, a common feature in early modern Persian book production.
History & Provenance
The page originates from a manuscript created for Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal elite. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is currently conserved and displayed as part of the museum’s Islamic art holdings.
Context
Produced during a period when illustrated literary codices were commissioned by royal patrons, the Tuti‑nama reflects the cultural exchange between Persian literary tradition and the artistic tastes of the Mughal court.
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
Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot)
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page