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 object is a single illustrated page from the Persian narrative work known as the Tales of a Parrot, or Tuti‑nama.
About this work
Overview
The object is a single illustrated page from the Persian narrative work known as the Tales of a Parrot, or Tuti‑nama. Executed as a painted manuscript page, it presents dense black calligraphic text arranged in tight rows across the surface. The page is bordered by a narrow red strip and rests on a warm, aged paper that shows subtle blue discolorations, indicating its antiquity.
Subject & Meaning
The text on the page forms part of a larger story that follows the adventures and moral lessons conveyed through the voice of a parrot. While the specific episode is not identified, the narrative tradition of the Tuti‑nama uses animal protagonists to explore ethical themes, making each page a fragment of a broader didactic tale.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy is rendered in a fluid black ink, with occasional wet spots where the pigment has bled, creating a slightly blurred effect. Letterforms are elongated and looped, balancing controlled precision with a lively rhythm. A thin red border frames the composition, providing visual contrast and delineating the textual field against the paper's muted background.
History & Provenance
The page is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of Persian manuscript illumination. Its acquisition details are not specified, but its presence in the museum indicates it was transferred from a private or institutional collection to the public domain for scholarly and public access.
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