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.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1560 by the artist Shravana, this miniature painting illustrates a scene from the eighth night of the Persian narrative collection known as the Tuti‑nama, or Tales of a Parrot. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of courtly illustration.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of clandestine intimacy: a woman in a richly embroidered red and gold garment leans over a balcony, while a man in blue stands on the terrace below, drawing a bow toward her. The composition suggests themes of betrayal and secret desire, echoing the story’s focus on a deceitful wife returning to her lover’s terrace.

Technique & Style

Executed in the miniature tradition, the painting employs a vivid palette of contrasting reds, blues, and golds against an orange‑brick background. Fine brushwork delineates the patterned floor, the leafy tree, and the architectural details, while a flowing Persian script runs beneath the scene, integrating text and image in a typical narrative illustration style.

History & Provenance

The piece has remained within the corpus of Persian manuscript art before entering the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings. Its attribution to Shravana, a known illustrator of the period, situates it within the broader production of 16th‑century courtly manuscripts.

Context

The Tuti‑nama, a collection of romantic and moral tales, was popular among the elite of Safavid Persia. Illustrations such as this one served both decorative and didactic purposes, reinforcing the moral lessons of the stories while showcasing the patron’s taste for luxurious visual culture.