Artwork

The deceitful wife returns to her terrace after caressing her lover, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

The deceitful wife returns to her terrace after caressing her lover, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Shravana. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting illustrates a scene from the Tuti-nama, a collection of tales told by a parrot to a king.

About this work

The artist shows the moment right after the woman’s betrayal, her face calm but her body tense.

A woman in a red dress steps back onto her balcony, adjusting her veil. Below, a man in green looks up, his hand still raised from their secret touch. The scene is small, packed with tiny details—flowers, tiles, even the folds of her sash.

This painting comes from a book of parrot tales told to a king. Each story warns against trusting accusations without proof. The artist shows the moment right after the woman’s betrayal, her face calm but her body tense.

To see more art like this, look up Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605).

Overview

This painting illustrates a scene from the Tuti-nama, a collection of tales told by a parrot to a king. It depicts a moment from the story recounted by the fifth of seven viziers, who aim to dissuade the king from executing his son based on a servant's accusation.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a woman returning to her balcony after secretly caressing a lover below, exemplifying the theme of deceitful women that runs through the viziers' stories, cautioning against hasty judgments based on accusations.

Technique & Style

The artist, identified by a Persian inscription as Shravana, has densely populated the small composition with intricate details, including flowers, architectural tiles, and the folds of the woman's clothing, showcasing a high level of miniaturist skill.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of a manuscript from the court of Akbar in Mughal India, dating to his reign from 1556 to 1605, a period known for its rich cultural and artistic production.