Artwork
The merchant of Tirmiz takes the wise parrot and myna to ‘Ubaid, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-second Night
The merchant of Tirmiz takes the wise parrot and myna to ‘Ubaid, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-second Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work illustrates a scene from the Persian narrative collection Tuti‑nama, specifically the forty‑second night in which a merchant from Tirmiz presents a wise parrot and myna to a figure named Ubaid. Two figures in vivid garments stand before an elaborately decorated pavilion, one clutching a small cage, a drum, and a stick, while the other leans on a staff, listening attentively.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of storytelling, emphasizing the exchange of exotic birds as symbols of wisdom and entertainment in medieval Persian culture. The interaction between the merchant and his audience reflects the didactic purpose of the Tuti‑nama, where animal characters often convey moral lessons.
Technique & Style
Rendered in bright, saturated colors, the composition features a tiled floor, a flowering tree behind a red fence, and a pavilion roof adorned with geometric patterns. The figures are outlined with fine brushwork, and the surrounding inscription appears in an Arabic‑style script, reinforcing the narrative’s setting.
History & Provenance
The painting originates from a manuscript tradition that illustrated the Tuti‑nama, a collection of fables popular across the Islamic world from the 14th to 16th centuries. It later entered museum collections, where it has been displayed alongside other Persian illustrated works.
Context
Within the broader tradition of Persian miniature painting, the work exemplifies the courtly aesthetic that combined literary themes with elaborate decorative elements. The use of vivid costume colors and architectural details reflects the period’s interest in portraying opulent settings for literary episodes.
Artist & collection
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Thirtieth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the forty-first night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-first Night
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Twenty-second Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the forty-third night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The magician disguised as a Brahman returns to claim his “daughter-in-law,” from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-fifth Night
The rejuvenated old man and the daughter of the king of the jinns take leave of the King of Kings, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Seventh Night
A woman asks her lover to leave her house, brandishing his sword and feigning rage in order to deceive her husband who has just arrived, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night