Bashir confides his love for Habbaza to an Arab friend, and sends him to her with a message, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night c. 1560 Part of a set. See all set records India, Mughal, Reign of Akbar, 16th century Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper Overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); Painting only: 16 x 10.1 cm (6 5/16 x 4 in.) Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.167.b DID YOU KNOW? Bahir’s friend, wearing yellow, appears both in the upper register and outside Habbaza’s tent. DESCRIPTION In the upper register, Bahir, dressed in orange, conveys a message to his friend for his lover Habbaza. Habbaza herself, who is married to another man, waits for the message in her tent. Other villagers appear throughout the painting, some gesturing in surprise, signaling how news of the clandestine affair spread among the people of Habbaza’s tribe. PROVENANCE Estate of Breckenridge Long, Bowie, MD, 1959; Harry Burke Antiques, Philadelphia, PA; Bernard Brown, Milwaukee, WI;