Artwork

The young man of Baghdad joins the Hashimi’s boat as a sailor to find his slave-girl on board, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-eighth Night

The young man of Baghdad joins the Hashimi’s boat as a sailor to find his slave-girl on board, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-eighth Night is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a river scene in which a group of figures occupy a boat amid verdant hills.

About this work

Overview

The work depicts a river scene in which a group of figures occupy a boat amid verdant hills. A man in an orange robe stands on a balcony above the vessel, while passengers in vivid yellow and red garments fill the deck. Musicians and seated travelers suggest a narrative moment, rendered with swirling water and lively detail.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates a passage from the Tuti‑nama, a collection of Persian tales. In this episode, a young man from Baghdad boards a Hashimi vessel in search of a slave‑girl he has seen aboard. The inclusion of musicians and the animated atmosphere emphasize the story’s romantic and adventurous tone.

Technique & Style

Executed in a decorative painting style, the piece combines bold, saturated colors with intricate patterning of water and foliage. The figures are rendered with flat modeling and stylized drapery, while the script at the top adds a calligraphic element that integrates text and image, a common feature in Persian narrative art.

History & Provenance

The painting originates from the manuscript tradition of the Tuti‑nama, likely produced in the Persianate world during the late medieval period. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed alongside other works that illuminate the region’s illustrated literary heritage.

Context

Narrative paintings such as this were used to visually accompany literary texts, enhancing the storytelling experience for readers. The depiction of a river journey reflects the cultural significance of travel and trade routes in the Islamic world, while the presence of musicians underscores the role of music in courtly and popular entertainment.