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The parrot laughs on hearing the Raja of Ujjain’s wife admire her beauty in a mirror, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot: Forty-sixth Night
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The raja’s wife claims to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The parrot laughs at her arrogance and tells them of a girl living in an underground kingdom whose beauty is incomparable. From the parrot’s words alone, the raja becomes obsessed with the girl and leaves to seek her company.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) |
|---|---|
| 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: 13.3 x 9.8 cm (5 1/4 x 3 7/8 in.) |
| Department | Indian and Southeast Asian Art |
| Type | Painting |
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Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
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Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)
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Anonymous, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)
Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page