The creatures of the sea are asked by the king of the Ocean to take a message to the Brahman, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eleventh Night
Unknown Artist
c. 1560
Medium
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
20.3 × 14 cm · painting only: 7.3 × 10.1 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry
Accession Number
1962.279.89.b
About this artwork
The creatures of the sea, by turn, refuse to convey the king of the ocean’s acceptance of the wedding invitation to the Brahman. The sea dragon in the upper right is concerned that he will frighten people, so he volunteered the whale. The whale said that he has no legs to walk on land, so volunteered the turtle. The turtle said he would be too slow and would never make it on time. The crab feared he would not be taken seriously, and the crocodile said that he is too rough and vulgar for the job....