Arkivism
Shahr-Arai and her lover dallying on a bed beneath which is concealed her husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fortieth Night
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Shahr-Arai and her lover dallying on a bed beneath which is concealed her husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fortieth Night

c. 1560 · gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Shahr-Arai’s husband hides under his wife’s bed in an attempt to catch her in a love affair. Despite his precautions, the ends of his purple robe peek out from beneath the bed. When Shahr-Arai sees this, she quickly concocts a plan to trick her husband and protect her lover.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineShahr-Arai and her lover dallying on a bed beneath which is concealed her husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fortieth 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: 13.4 x 10.2 cm (5 1/4 x 4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry, 1962.279.259.b

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