The disguised Arab, substituting for Habbaza, is whipped by her husband for refusing a bowl of milk, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night
Unknown Artist
c. 1560
Medium
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
20.3 × 14 cm · painting only: 12.5 × 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
1962.279.169.b
About this artwork
While Habbaza is away carrying on an affair with her lover Bashir, Bashir’s friend dresses in Habbaza’s clothes and waits in her tent. Each night, Habbaza’s husband offers her milk and when she refuses, leaves her in peace. This time, however, he becomes enraged at her silence and lashes out.