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 artifact is a single leaf from the medieval manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This artifact is a single leaf from the medieval manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). The page measures roughly the size of a modern book leaf and bears a dense block of text rendered in a flowing, decorative script. The parchment has acquired a yellowed patina and shows signs of handling, indicating its age and continued use over centuries.
Subject & Meaning
The written passage presents a narrative drawn from the *Tuti‑nama*, a collection of moral and didactic stories traditionally transmitted in a language distinct from the dominant literary tongues of its region. The content reflects the didactic purpose of the work, offering ethical instruction through allegorical episodes that were intended for an educated audience.
Technique & Style
The scribe employed black iron‑gall ink for the main body of the text, while select words are accented with gold leaf, creating a visual hierarchy that emphasizes key terms. The script is characterized by elegant, looping strokes and ornamental flourishes, typical of high‑status manuscripts, and the gold application demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of illumination techniques.
History & Provenance
The page originates from a manuscript produced for a noble patron, as suggested by the luxurious materials and refined calligraphy. Its survival in a relatively intact state points to careful preservation, likely within a private collection before entering a public institution where it is now displayed as a representative example of medieval bookmaking.
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