The old man eats fruit of the Tree of Life, but drops dead, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Ninth Night c. 1560 Part of a set. See all set records Lalu India, Mughal, Reign of Akbar, 16th century Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper Painting only: 11.4 x 10.2 cm (4 1/2 x 4 in.); Overall: 20.1 x 14.3 cm (7 15/16 x 5 5/8 in.) Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.78.a DID YOU KNOW? The gesture of the index finger touching the mouth indicates shock, awe, or bewilderment. DESCRIPTION The enthroned king stares in amazement at the body of the old man. The parrot, who brought the king the fruit, sits in a cage at the center of the room. Believing the parrot to be a traitor, the king orders his execution. However, unbeknownst to the king, the fruit was actually poisoned by the bite of a venomous snake. PROVENANCE Estate of Breckenridge Long, Bowie, MD, 1959; Harry Burke Antiques, Philadelphia, PA; Bernard Brown, Milwaukee, WI;