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The unfaithful wife explaining away the presence of the dough elephant, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
A woman who has just committed adultery on the way to bring her husband his meal must explain why she fashioned his pastry into the shape of an elephant. She was not aware that her lover’s son had done this, but thinking quickly, she explained that she had a dream that eating the elephant would protect him from danger. He accepts this lie and thanks his wife for her kindness.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineThe unfaithful wife explaining away the presence of the dough elephant, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; painting only: 11.5 x 9.9 cm (4 1/2 x 3 7/8 in.); overall: 20 x 14.4 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry, 1962.279.62.b
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