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). Executed as a painted page, it consists solely of calligraphic text rendered in black ink on a light beige ground, with selected words emphasized in blue. The composition is organized in tidy, evenly spaced lines, lacking any decorative imagery.
Subject & Meaning
The manuscript recounts a series of moral and romantic stories addressed to Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal court. The highlighted blue passages likely denote proper names or key thematic terms, guiding the reader’s attention to pivotal moments within the narrative.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed a fine brush to produce a script that balances delicacy with a confident stroke, filling the page without overcrowding. The use of contrasting blue pigment for emphasis reflects a common practice in Persian book production, where selective coloration aids legibility and visual hierarchy.
History & Provenance
Created for Prince Salim in the early seventeenth century, the folio eventually entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of South Asian manuscripts. Its provenance traces a path from Mughal patronage to Western institutional acquisition.
Context
*Tales of a Parrot* belongs to a tradition of Persian narrative literature that blended courtly romance with ethical instruction. Such manuscripts were often commissioned by royalty to demonstrate cultural refinement and to provide entertainment for elite audiences within the imperial household.
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