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The prince and Nikfal are joined by Khalis and the Mukhlis who are the grateful snake and frog in human form, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighteenth Night
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The prince, wearing yellow pants, with Nikfal (Good Fortune) by his side, looks back to see two men approaching. They introduce themselves as the cobra, whom the prince fed from his own flesh, and the frog, whose life he saved. They took on human forms and pledged to be his servants until they have returned the favor of his kindness. At the bottom of the page is the edge of a pool painted in silver paint that has tarnished black. Grass and poppies grow on its banks. The otherwise arid landscape has been painted pink with sparse grassy tufts.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineThe prince and Nikfal are joined by Khalis and the Mukhlis who are the grateful snake and frog in human form, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighteenth Night, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); painting only: 8.2 x 10 cm (3 1/4 x 3 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry, 1962.279.134.b
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