Artwork
The young prince recounts his experiences to his father, the king, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
The young prince recounts his experiences to his father, the king, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth 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 depicts a young prince seated on a throne, narrating his adventures to his father, the king, within an opulently decorated interior. The composition includes a small table bearing a vase and a jug, and several onlookers observe the exchange, emphasizing the ceremonial atmosphere of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The narrative focus is the prince’s recounting of his experiences, suggesting a moment of instruction or reflection between generations. The presence of the king, attentive and authoritative, underscores themes of lineage, counsel, and the transmission of knowledge within a royal court.
Technique & Style
The painting employs a pronounced chiaroscuro effect, with stark light‑dark contrasts that model the figures and furnishings, producing a convincing sense of volume. Fine detailing in the textiles, jewelry, and architectural elements conveys a high degree of realism.
Context
Set against richly patterned tiles and elaborate décor, the work reflects the aesthetic preferences of a courtly environment where luxury and intricate design were markers of status. The inclusion of a Tuti‑nama reference indicates a literary source that was popular in the region’s artistic circles.
History & Provenance
No specific provenance information is provided for the piece, and its creation date, artist, and original collection remain undocumented in the supplied facts.
Artist & collection
The young prince is presented to the king, his father, by his teacher, but refuses to speak, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
The handmaiden again pleads for the death of the prince, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
The prince sent back to the place of execution for the sixth time, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
The king gives his daughter in marriage to the pious man’s son, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifty-second Night
The parrot brings a fruit from the Tree of Life to the king of Syria, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Ninth Night
The magic parrot of the merchant talks to the vizier’s son, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Tenth Night
The king of Bahilistan offers his daughter to the King of Kings, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Seventh Night
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page
The marriage of ‘Ubaid, son of a merchant of Tirmiz, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-second Night
The merchant has the hateful skull ground and put into a box, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-third Night
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page