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 illuminated page originates from the Persian manuscript known as *Tuti‑nama* (Tales of a Parrot).
About this work
Overview
This illuminated page originates from the Persian manuscript known as *Tuti‑nama* (Tales of a Parrot). It consists of a single sheet of aged paper, its surface yellowed with time, and is covered entirely by dense black calligraphy arranged in orderly rows. A modest decorative border frames the text, while occasional words are highlighted in red or blue ink to draw attention.
Subject & Meaning
The passage was composed for Prince Salim, a member of the Safavid court, and is written in Persian script. The selective use of colored ink suggests the text was intended for oral presentation or close study, allowing the reader to emphasize particular passages during recitation.
Technique & Style
The calligrapher employed a flowing Nastaʿlīq hand, characteristic of Persian literary manuscripts, with precise line spacing that maximizes the page’s limited space. Red and blue pigments, likely derived from mineral sources, are applied sparingly to accentuate key words, a common practice in luxury books of the period.
History & Provenance
The page is part of a larger *Tuti‑nama* manuscript that was produced in the early 17th century for the Safavid elite. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition, where it is displayed alongside other pages from the same codex.
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