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 single leaf from a manuscript titled *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The object is a single leaf from a manuscript titled *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). It consists of a rectangular page with a beige ground, framed by a thin red border. The surface is covered entirely by black ink forming a dense block of text, without any accompanying illustrations.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains a continuous passage written in an unidentified script, suggesting it forms part of a narrative or didactic work. The title implies a collection of stories involving a parrot, a motif common in Persian and South Asian literary traditions, though the specific content of this leaf remains unreadable without decipherment.
Technique & Style
Ink was applied with a fine brush or pen, producing intricate, ornamental letterforms that include numerous flourishes and decorative terminals. The uniform black coloration and careful alignment indicate a disciplined hand, while the red marginal band provides a contrasting visual frame, a feature typical of luxury manuscripts.
History & Provenance
No explicit information about the manuscript’s origin, date, or ownership is provided. The use of a red border and elaborate script aligns with practices in Persianate book production from the medieval to early modern periods, but the precise cultural and chronological context remains undetermined.
Context
Manuscript pages such as this were traditionally produced for elite patrons, serving both literary and aesthetic functions. The emphasis on calligraphic elegance reflects the high status accorded to the written word in societies where literacy and artistic script were closely linked.
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
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page