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 painted page from the Persian manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This object is a painted page from the Persian manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). The sheet measures roughly the size of a standard folio and is composed of aged, light‑tan paper. Its surface is dominated by dense black calligraphy, bounded by a narrow red ornamental frame, with occasional red ink accents that punctuate the text.
Subject & Meaning
The inscribed narrative belongs to the *Tuti‑nama*, a collection of moral and romantic stories traditionally presented to a royal patron. This particular leaf was prepared for Prince Salim, suggesting it formed part of a personalized gift or instructional volume intended to entertain and instruct the young noble.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy is executed in a precise, angular script typical of 17th‑century Persian bookhands, demonstrating the scribe’s disciplined hand. The red border and scattered marks are applied with fine brushes, providing visual contrast and emphasizing the page’s decorative function while preserving the manuscript’s overall aesthetic cohesion.
History & Provenance
The page has survived in a condition that shows slight wear and a softened paper surface, indicative of its age and handling over centuries. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is currently displayed as part of the museum’s Islamic art holdings.
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