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The lover’s son makes an elephant of the pastry dough carried by the unfaithful wife and puts it in her basket, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

The lover’s son makes an elephant of the pastry dough carried by the unfaithful wife and puts it in her basket, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night, unspecified, 1560
The lover’s son makes an elephant of the pastry dough carried by the unfaithful wife and puts it in her basket, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night, unspecified, 1560

The lover’s son makes an elephant of the pastry dough carried by the unfaithful wife and puts it in her basket, 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 compact, brightly coloured tableau drawn from the eighth night of the Persian illustrated manuscript *Tuti‑nama* (Tales of a Parrot).

The work depicts a compact, brightly coloured tableau drawn from the eighth night of the Persian illustrated manuscript *Tuti‑nama* (Tales of a Parrot). A kneeling man in a red garment presents a dough figure shaped like an elephant to a startled man in orange, while a woman in blue watches. A horse with an ornate saddle, a basket, a pot and a leafy tree complete the scene, which is set on a floor of yellow‑brick tiles.

Subject & Meaning

The narrative illustrates a mischievous episode in which a son, having learned of his wife’s infidelity, fashions a pastry elephant and places it in her basket as a symbolic rebuke. The exaggerated dough animal serves as a visual metaphor for the absurdity of the wife's betrayal, while the reactions of the surrounding figures underscore the moral lesson embedded in the tale.

Technique & Style

Executed in miniature painting tradition, the piece employs fine brushwork and a vivid palette to delineate each figure and decorative element. The composition is tightly arranged, with a shallow spatial depth that emphasizes the narrative action. Gold leaf accents on the horse’s saddle and the woman’s attire highlight the manuscript’s luxurious production.

History & Provenance

The painting originates from a Persian illustrated manuscript produced in the 16th‑17th century, a period when *Tuti‑nama* enjoyed wide circulation across the Islamic world. The specific folio illustrating the eighth night was later separated from its codex and entered a European collection, eventually becoming part of a museum’s decorative arts holdings.

Artist & collection

VISUALLY SIMILAR

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SAME SUBJECT

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.