Artwork

The handmaiden again pleads for the death of the prince, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

Lalu , 1560

The handmaiden again pleads for the death of the prince, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Lalu. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

You see a crowded courtroom: turbaned men in robes, a bound prince with his turban half-off, and a woman kneeling at the bottom right, pointing at him.

You see a crowded courtroom: turbaned men in robes, a bound prince with his turban half-off, and a woman kneeling at the bottom right, pointing at him.

This painting is from a storybook told by a parrot to keep its owner from sneaking out at night. The woman is lying—she made up the rape charge to get the prince killed. The artist shows her dramatic moment, but the real drama is the lie itself.

To see more of these storytelling paintings, look up *mughal india, court of akbar (reigned 1556–1605)*.

Overview

This painting, titled 'The handmaiden again pleads for the death of the prince,' is an illustration from the Tuti-nama, a collection of tales told by a parrot. It depicts a dramatic scene in a crowded Mughal court.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a handmaiden falsely accusing a prince of rape, demanding his execution, while the prince is led into the assembly, bound and disheveled. The handmaiden's accusation is a fabrication, adding a layer of tension to the scene.

Technique & Style

The composition is crowded with figures, including turbaned men in robes, the bound prince, and the kneeling handmaiden. The artist has captured a moment of high drama, with the handmaiden's gesture drawing attention to the prince.

Context

The painting is part of a series illustrating the Tuti-nama, a storybook in which a parrot recounts tales to its owner. The Tuti-nama was created during the reign of Akbar, a Mughal emperor who ruled from 1556 to 1605.