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. This object is a single leaf from the illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot, or Tuti‑nama.
About this work
Overview
This object is a single leaf from the illustrated manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot, or Tuti‑nama. The sheet consists of a light‑coloured, slightly yellowed paper that has been bordered with a thin red line. Across the surface runs dense black Arabic calligraphy arranged in orderly horizontal rows, occupying most of the page.
Subject & Meaning
The calligraphic text appears to be a narrative passage, likely drawn from the collection of fables and moral stories that comprise the Tuti‑nama tradition. The measured flow of the letters suggests a reading pace akin to poetry, inviting contemplation of the tale’s moral or instructional content.
Technique & Style
The script was executed by hand with a fine pen, producing uniformly formed characters that demonstrate a disciplined calligraphic hand. The black ink contrasts sharply with the parchment, while the subtle red border frames the composition, a decorative element common in Persian‑influenced manuscript production.
History & Provenance
Pages such as this were produced for elite patrons in the Islamic world, where the Tuti‑nama was circulated as a didactic and literary work. The sheet now forms part of a museum collection, having been acquired through the institution’s manuscript holdings, though specific acquisition details are not recorded in the available description.
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
Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot)
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page