Artwork
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Thirteenth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Thirteenth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work portrays a woman dressed in a red sari, positioned before an interior space that includes a tiled floor and a decorative wall with a window and doorway. To her left a caged parrot is shown, its feathers rendered with fine detail. The woman’s right hand is raised as if speaking to the bird, and she wears gold jewelry that catches the eye.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates a moment from the Persian narrative tradition of the Tuti‑nama, or "Tales of a Parrot," in which a parrot addresses a character named Khujasta on the thirteenth night. The interaction suggests a dialogue between human and animal, a common motif in literary illustrations that explores themes of communication, wisdom, and the supernatural.
Technique & Style
Executed with vivid pigments, the painting demonstrates meticulous brushwork, particularly in the rendering of the parrot’s plumage and the intricate patterns of the woman’s sari and jewelry. The use of bright, contrasting colors and careful attention to architectural details reflects a high level of craftsmanship typical of South Asian courtly painting traditions.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its acquisition details are not specified in the provided information, but its presence in a major U.S. museum indicates recognition of its cultural and artistic significance within the broader corpus of Persian illustrated manuscripts.
Artist & collection
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Twenty-sixth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the thirty-eighth night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the thirty-third night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Nineteenth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Twelfth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Twenty-fifth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Twenty-third Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Tenth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
Kaiwan sends a message of love to Khurshid, wife of his brother Utarid who is away on a journey, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-second Night
The king of Zabul sees Mahrusa from his palace balcony, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-sixth Night
The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Eighteenth Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)