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. The work is a single page from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
The work is a single page from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Rendered in black ink on paper, the page is densely filled with flowing Arabic calligraphy arranged in tight, orderly rows. A thin blue line bisects the surface, separating two distinct blocks of text, while a modest red border frames the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains narrative verses drawn from the *Tuti‑nama*, a collection of moral and didactic stories traditionally transmitted in Persian and Arabic cultures. The text, presented in elegant cursive, conveys the moral lessons embedded in the parrot’s tales, reflecting the educational purpose of the manuscript.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed a fluid black ink, varying the connection of letters to create visual rhythm and emphasis. The script combines linked and isolated characters, demonstrating mastery of the Naskh or similar cursive style. The subtle blue line serves as a visual organizer, while the red border provides a restrained decorative element without detracting from the text.
History & Provenance
Pages from the *Tuti‑nama* were produced in the Islamic world during the medieval period, often in workshop settings that combined literary and artistic expertise. This particular sheet has entered a museum collection, where it is displayed as an example of manuscript illumination and calligraphic art, illustrating the transmission of literary culture across centuries.
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