The parrot brings a fruit from the Tree of Life to the king of Syria, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Ninth Night

Laluc. 1560

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States

A wise, green parrot perches on the hand of the king of Syria. Clutched in his beak is a small orange fruit that he plucked from a tree in the netherworld and brought back as a reward for many years of the king’s kindness. Despite being offered eternal life, the king is hesitant to eat the fruit.

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Details

Title: The parrot brings a fruit from the Tree of Life to the king of Syria, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Ninth Night
Creator: Lalu
Date Created: c. 1560
Physical Dimensions: Painting only: 7.6 x 10.2 cm (3 x 4 in.); Overall: 20 x 14.4 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.)
Provenance: Estate of Breckenridge Long, Bowie, MD, 1959; Harry Burke Antiques, Philadelphia, PA; Bernard Brown, Milwaukee, WI;
Type: Painting
Rights: CC0
External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1962.279.75.b
Medium: gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Inscriptions: lālū
Fun Fact: Outside of this manuscript, only one other known work is attributed to the painter Lalu.
Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Culture: Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry
Collection: Indian Art
Accession Number: 1962.279.75.b

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