The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of October 29, 2026

A vertical book page features Persian script above a gum tempera and ink painting of six men with medium skin tones. A man in an orange robe sits on a platform while an attendant in green holds a whisk. A man in blue stands before them. Below, three men remove gray sacks from a white structure near a red door on our right, all against a pink brick wall and patterned floor.

The king’s emissary being provided with gifts for his mission to Rum in order to seek the hand of the emperor’s daughter in marriage, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth Night

c. 1560

Mughal India, court of Akbar

(reigned 1556–1605)
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); Painting only: 10.3 x 10.5 cm (4 1/16 x 4 1/8 in.)
Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.317.a
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The king’s attendant holds a flywhisk, called a chauri.

Description

In the background, the enthroned king addresses his emissary while members of his court collect wrapped bundles of goods. The king has conquered all surrounding lands and become indifferent as a result. His vizier suggests marriage to the princess of Rum, secretly hoping that the plan will spur the neglectful king to action.
  • ?–1959
    Estate of Breckinridge Long [1881–1958], Bowie, MD
    1959–1962?
    (Harry Burke Antiques, Philadelphia, PA)
    1959?–1962
    (Bernard Brown Agency, Milwaukee, WI, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Purchased with funds from Mrs. A. Dean [Helen Wade Greene] Perry)
    1962–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    Provenance Footnotes
    1 Samuel Miller Breckinridge Long (May 16, 1881–September 26, 1958) was an American diplomat and politician, who served in the administrations of Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Long is largely remembered for his obstructionist role as the Assistant Secretary of State responsible for granting refugee visas during World War II. His interests included the collection of antiques, paintings and American ship models. He maintained a stable of Thoroughbred race horses and was a director of the Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland, and he enjoyed fox hunting, fishing, and sailing.
  • {{cite web|title=The king’s emissary being provided with gifts for his mission to Rum in order to seek the hand of the emperor’s daughter in marriage, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth Night|url=false|author=|year=c. 1560|access-date=29 October 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1962.279.317.a