Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page

1558–60

India, Mughal court, 16th century

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Medium

gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Measurements

Overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.203.a

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Location

Not on view

Description

Many of the illustrations from the latter portion of the book reveal more confidence in naturalistic spatial renderings. The space of the courtyard, roof, bedroom niche, and the dimensionality of the parrot’s perch are all more convincing than those of the Fifteenth Night on the wall to the left. On this night the parrot is telling Khujasta that he is worried about whether or not her lover is of noble ancestry. She asked him how she could find out his true lineage. The parrot answered that he would eventually betray himself by his speech or behavior, if he were of low breeding. He then told the story about the donkey in a lion’s skin.