Artwork

The lover’s son makes an elephant of the pastry dough carried by the unfaithful wife and puts it in her basket, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

The lover’s son makes an elephant of the pastry dough carried by the unfaithful wife and puts it in her basket, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. 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 parrot tales created for Emperor Akbar.

About this work

A boy kneads dough from the basket into a tiny elephant shape while two adults kiss behind a bush.

You see a woman in a long red dress walking away, basket of food on her head. A boy kneads dough from the basket into a tiny elephant shape while two adults kiss behind a bush.

This painting comes from a book of parrot tales told to Emperor Akbar. The stories were meant to teach lessons—here, about trust and consequences. The boy’s playful elephant is a quiet clue that something’s wrong.

To see more paintings 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 parrot tales created for Emperor Akbar. It depicts a moment from the eighth night's story, where a child's actions inadvertently reveal his mother's infidelity.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a woman, a boy, and a man in a compromising situation, with the boy creating an elephant from dough in the woman's basket. The narrative conveys a moral lesson about the consequences of unfaithfulness and the innocence of children.

Technique & Style

The painting is characterized by its vivid depiction of figures and their actions. A woman in a red dress is shown walking away, while a boy shapes dough into an elephant and two adults engage in intimate behavior behind a bush, showcasing the artist's skill in conveying complex narratives through visual elements.

Context

The Tuti-nama was commissioned by Emperor Akbar, a Mughal ruler known for his patronage of the arts. The stories and accompanying illustrations were intended to impart moral teachings, reflecting Akbar's interest in promoting cultural and educational endeavors during his reign from 1556 to 1605.