Cleveland Museum of Art

The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the fiftieth night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth Night

Date

c. 1560

Medium

gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Culture

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

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

As the sun sets on the fiftieth night, Khujasta attempts to leave to visit her lover. She is stopped by Tuti, the clever talking parrot, who begins to tell a story about the princess of Rum and the anguish caused by her son. The parrot’s tale lasts until sunrise, and Khujasta is again unable to meet with her lover. Rum is the Arabic name for Rome.

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