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 the illustrated manuscript known as *Tuti‑nama* or *Tales of a Parrot*.
About this work
Overview
The object is a single leaf from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tuti‑nama* or *Tales of a Parrot*. Rendered on paper, the page is densely filled with black calligraphic text arranged in tight, orderly rows. A narrow red border outlines the margins, and the surface shows signs of age, including slight fading of the ink and occasional translucency where the paper substrate is visible.
Subject & Meaning
The script records a portion of a narrative traditionally associated with the *Tuti‑nama*, a collection of moral and didactic stories conveyed through a parrot’s recitations. While the specific episode on this leaf is not identified, the work as a whole functions as a literary guide, using allegorical tales to impart ethical instruction to its readers.
Technique & Style
The text is executed in nastaʿlīq, a Persian calligraphic hand that blends fluid cursive strokes with angular elements, producing a graceful, slanted line. The ink, originally a deep black, has faded over time, revealing the paper beneath in places. The thin red border was likely added by a later hand to delineate the page’s limits and enhance visual cohesion.
History & Provenance
The leaf originates from a manuscript produced in the Persianate cultural sphere, though its precise date and place of creation remain uncertain. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is conserved as part of the museum’s broader holdings of Islamic book arts, reflecting the institution’s commitment to preserving such historic documents.
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
