Artwork
Lovers parting, page from a book of fables
Lovers parting, page from a book of fables is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1596 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Lovers parting is a painted page from a book of fables, depicting a dramatic scene in a rocky landscape with human and animal figures.
About this work
Overview
Lovers parting is a painted page from a book of fables, depicting a dramatic scene in a rocky landscape with human and animal figures.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows a man in vibrant attire gesturing to a woman holding a child, as a giant snake coils nearby, while small animals observe from hiding. The interaction suggests a narrative of separation, danger, or moral lesson, characteristic of fable themes.
Technique & Style
The work features detailed, rich colors and a gold border, indicating its creation for a high-quality, possibly commissioned book. The style blends realistic elements, such as textured foliage, with symbolic or exaggerated features, like the giant snake.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a book of fables, the page's specific historical context, including its creator and date, is not provided in the given information. It is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Context
The painting reflects the medieval or early modern European tradition of illustrating moral tales with hybrid scenes of humans, animals, and sometimes fantastical creatures, aiming to convey ethical messages through vivid, engaging imagery.
Artist & collection
Mukhtar throws his wife Maimuna into the pit, but she saves herself, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fifth Night
Untitled
A woman with two children, having abandoned her home, goes into the forest where she encounters a leopard, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirtieth Night
A Woman Charms Snakes in the Wilderness: Asavari Ragini, from a Ragamala
Untitled
Lovers Parting, Page from a Book of Fables