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 illuminated page originates from the manuscript *Tales of a Parrot*, a narrative composed for Prince Salim.
About this work
Overview
This illuminated page originates from the manuscript *Tales of a Parrot*, a narrative composed for Prince Salim. Rendered on a light‑beige folio, the sheet is dominated by dense black ink forming a flowing, rhythmic script, accented sporadically with blue highlights. A delicate border of red and gold frames the composition, emphasizing its decorative function.
Subject & Meaning
The text on the page continues the story of the *Tales of a Parrot*, a literary work intended for princely entertainment and moral instruction. The careful spacing and melodic quality of the letters suggest a reading experience that balances visual pleasure with narrative content, reflecting the courtly culture that valued both literary and artistic refinement.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed a single‑brush technique, varying line thickness to create visual emphasis and movement within the script. Blue pigments, likely derived from lapis lazuli or azurite, are applied as subtle accents, while the border’s red and gold were probably added with mineral pigments and gold leaf, typical of luxury manuscripts of the period.
History & Provenance
Created for Prince Salik, the page later entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is now displayed for public viewing. Its survival in a museum setting indicates a provenance that includes private ownership before acquisition by the institution, though specific details of its intermediate history remain undocumented.
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
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