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 leaf from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This object is a single leaf from the illustrated manuscript known as *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). The page is rendered as a painted sheet rather than a printed sheet, and it measures roughly the size of a typical folio. The surface bears the patina of age, including faint stains and a delicate border that frames the text.
Subject & Meaning
The central element is a block of calligraphic text written in a script resembling Arabic, suggesting a narrative or poetic composition. The title of the work indicates that the content relates to a collection of stories involving a parrot, a common motif in Persian and Central Asian literary tradition that often conveys moral or didactic themes.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy is executed in black ink, while selective portions are highlighted with blue pigment, creating visual contrast. The letters are embellished with intricate flourishes and curvilinear ornaments, characteristic of manuscript illumination in the Islamic world. The thin border surrounding the page is also painted, reinforcing the overall decorative scheme.
History & Provenance
The page originates from a historical codex, likely produced in a workshop that specialized in literary manuscripts. Its material composition and decorative style point to a date prior to the widespread adoption of printing in the region, placing it within the pre‑modern manuscript tradition. The exact origin and previous owners remain undocumented.
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
