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 Persian manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The object is a painted page from the Persian manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Executed with black ink on a light‑brown ground, the sheet presents a neatly arranged block of decorative calligraphy, framed by a thin dark border and accented by a small blue mark in the lower left corner.
Subject & Meaning
The inscribed text appears to be a narrative or poetic passage, likely composed for a distinguished recipient. The elegance of the script and the careful composition suggest the content was intended to be read and cherished as a literary work of some importance.
Technique & Style
An artist applied black ink in a flowing, ornamental hand, filling the surface with evenly spaced lines that create a harmonious visual rhythm. The use of a light brown substrate provides subtle contrast, while the faint blue element adds a decorative touch without disrupting the overall monochrome scheme.
History & Provenance
Pages of this type are part of a larger illustrated codex that originated in the Persianate world during the medieval period. Similar folios are held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, indicating a shared provenance among surviving examples of the manuscript.
Context
Tuti‑nama, a collection of moral tales and fables, was traditionally produced for courtly audiences, combining literary content with visual embellishment. The careful calligraphic treatment of this page reflects the manuscript’s role as both a literary and artistic object within its cultural milieu.
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
Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot)
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page