The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the fortieth night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot) 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: 8.9 x 10.1 cm (3 1/2 x 4 in.) Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.258.a DID YOU KNOW? A highly corrosive copper green pigment, called verdigris, has darkened and damaged the paper. DESCRIPTION As Khujasta prepares to leave to spend the night with her lover, she is stopped by Tuti the parrot. Tuti begins to tell her the story of a merchant’s wife, named Shahr-Arai, who tricked her husband in order to carry out an affair. The story is set in Nishapur, a city in northeast Iran. PROVENANCE Estate of Breckenridge Long, Bowie, MD, 1959; Harry Burke Antiques, Philadelphia, PA; Bernard Brown, Milwaukee, WI;