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 page from the medieval manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This object is a single page from the medieval manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Rendered on warm‑toned paper, the surface bears dense black ink arranged in tidy columns, with occasional gold lettering that catches the eye. A thin blue line bisects the page horizontally, adding a subtle decorative element to the otherwise textual field.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains a segment of the narrative *Tales of a Parrot*, a story that circulated in South Asian literary circles. The highlighted gold words likely mark key names or moral points, guiding the reader’s attention to pivotal moments within the tale’s moral or didactic framework.
Technique & Style
The manuscript employs traditional ink on paper, with black pigment applied in fine, uniform strokes to create legible script. Gold ink, applied with a fine brush, accentuates select terms, while a delicate blue pigment forms a horizontal band, suggesting a decorative rule used to separate sections or indicate a pause in the narrative.
History & Provenance
The page is part of a larger codex that originated centuries ago, reflecting the material culture of its time. It now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of historic manuscript production and the transmission of literary works across regions.
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