The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the fiftieth night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth Night
Unknown Artist
c. 1560
Medium
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
20.3 × 14 cm · painting only: 8.8 × 10 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry
Accession Number
1962.279.316.a
About this artwork
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.