Artwork Page for The guard spares the life of the slave when he learns that he is the son of the princess of the Rum, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth Night

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The guard spares the life of the slave when he learns that he is the son of the princess of the Rum, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth Night

c. 1560

Mughal India, court of Akbar

(reigned 1556–1605)
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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.); Painting only: 7.9 x 10 cm (3 1/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.321.b
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The guard hides the princess’s son and does not reveal his identity to the king.

Description

The king, mistakenly believing that the princess’s secret son is her lover, orders him to be executed. The young man is shown with hands bound and long hair in disarray; his unraveled turban lies on the ground at his side. Just before the guard can behead him, the princess’s son reveals his true identity, and his life is spared.
A vertically oriented tempera painting features a central illustration between horizontal bands of black calligraphy. A man with medium-light skin, wearing a vivid orange tunic and blue trousers, brandishes a curved sword over a kneeling person in a yellow robe with bound hands. Behind them, a building features white pillars and purple panels. Three rows of script border the top, while four rows of script line the bottom of the tan paper.

The guard spares the life of the slave when he learns that he is the son of the princess of the Rum, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth Night

c. 1560

Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

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