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The donkey, in a tiger’s skin, reveals his identity by braying aloud, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-first Night
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This painting illustrates a story about a merchant who owned a donkey but did not have enough money to feed him. He was able to secure a tiger’s skin, in which he dressed his donkey at night, so he could forage freely in fields, frightening away the owners’ watchmen, seen here scrambling up in trees for safety. He succeeded for a time and grew fat and healthy, until a nearby donkey brayed, and he instinctively answered, revealing his true identity.
| Artist / Maker | Basavana |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1560 |
| Culture / Origin | Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) |
| Medium | gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper |
| Dimensions | Overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); Painting only: 13.8 x 10 cm (5 7/16 x 3 15/16 in.) |
| Department | Indian and Southeast Asian Art |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
Basavana (Indian, active c. 1560–1600) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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