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 folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama).
About this work
Overview
This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript *Tales of a Parrot* (Tuti‑nama). Executed on paper, the page is densely covered with black calligraphic script arranged in tight, orderly rows. The ink appears smooth and controlled, while occasional faint blue markings and a small brown spot interrupt the uniformity of the text.
Subject & Meaning
The written passage forms part of a narrative composed for Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal court. The story, centered on a talking parrot, was intended both as entertainment and as a vehicle for moral instruction, reflecting the courtly taste for didactic literature presented in an elegant, readable form.
Technique & Style
The calligraphy demonstrates a refined hand, employing a fine brush to lay down a consistent black ink line. The occasional blue tints suggest the use of a secondary pigment, perhaps for decorative initials or marginal notes. The paper bears a solitary brown stain, likely the result of handling or environmental exposure over time.
History & Provenance
The folio entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art through acquisition, though precise details of its earlier ownership remain undocumented in the available record. Its survival as an individual page indicates it was detached from a larger codex at some point, a common practice in the trade of manuscript fragments.
Context
Produced in the Mughal period, the *Tales of a Parrot* manuscript reflects the synthesis of Persian literary tradition with Indian courtly culture. Such works were often commissioned for princes, combining literary content with visual elegance to reinforce royal patronage of the arts.
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