Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page

The page contains a passage of prose or poetry, presented in a flowing script with occasional underlining and highlighting that draw attention to particular words or phrases. The content appears to be a narrative excerpt, typical of the moral and romantic stories compiled in the Tuti‑nama tradition.

The artist employed black ink on a light ground, achieving high contrast that emphasizes the calligraphy. The script follows a graceful, cursive hand, while the surrounding border is rendered in a simple linear fashion, allowing the text to dominate the visual field.

Commissioned for Prince Salim in the mid‑sixteenth century, the page remained within the manuscript until it entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings. Its provenance traces back to the original patronage of the Mughal court, reflecting the period’s interest in illustrated literary works.