A woman asks her lover to leave her house, brandishing his sword and feigning rage in order to deceive her husband who has just arrived, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night

A woman asks her lover to leave by brandishing his sword to fool her husband. This scene is from the Tuti-nama, painted around 1560. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper. Court of Akbar, Mughal India.

The use of gold adds a rich texture to the scene. The figures are finely detailed, showing the artist’s skill in miniature painting. Dimensions are not provided by the museum.

The Tuti-nama, or ‘Tales of a Parrot’, is a collection of 52 stories. This illustration is part of the eighth night story. Originally commissioned for the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

The artist is referred to simply as Gujarati, indicating a connection to the region of Gujarat. Active during the late 16th century, their works were part of the courtly art scene.

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, https://clevelandart.org/art/1962.279.58.a