The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Eleventh Night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
Medium
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
20.1 × 13.6 cm · painting only: 7.7 × 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
1962.279.87.a
Tags
About this artwork
When the lover of the ocean—the sun—entered his place of retirement in the west and the beloved of the stars— the moon—came out of the bride’s apartment in the east, Khujasta with eyes wet like the sea and tears like brilliant gems went to Tuti to ask his permission to leave. . . . Eleven days and nights have come and gone since Khujasta fell for a local prince. Each night, having prepared herself for a lovers’ rendezvous, her husband’s pet parrot has beguiled her into staying up all night liste...