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 folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). The page consists of dense black calligraphy arranged in tight, orderly rows, framed by a thin red border. The paper shows a warm, slightly yellowed tone, suggesting age, while the ink retains a fresh, dark sheen with occasional faint slip marks from the pen.
Subject & Meaning
The text on the page forms part of a narrative composed for Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal court. Such stories were designed to entertain and instruct royalty, intertwining moral lessons with courtly intrigue, and the elaborate presentation reflects the patron’s status and the cultural value placed on literary art.
Technique & Style
The script is rendered in flowing black ink, applied with a fine brush or pen that produces a uniform, compact hand. The red border, likely added with a thin pigment line, delineates the text area and adds a decorative accent typical of high‑status manuscripts of the period.
History & Provenance
The folio originates from a manuscript created for a Mughal prince, indicating a courtly production context. It now forms part of a collection that includes similar works, such as those held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, which houses comparable examples of Mughal illustrated texts.
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