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The origin of music from a fabulous bird of India which had seven holes in its beak, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourteenth Night

Unknown Artist

c. 1560

The origin of music from a fabulous bird of India which had seven holes in its beak, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourteenth Night by Unknown Artist

Medium

gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Dimensions

20.2 × 14 cm · painting only: 10 × 10 cm

Classification

Painting

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

Credit

Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry

Accession Number

1962.279.110.b

Rights

Public Domain

About this artwork

This story tells of a fantastical bird called a qaqnos who emitted sonorous tones from its beak when joyful. From these sounds, the science of music was developed. In the image, a man holding a book in one hand and an instrument called a vina in the other crouches beneath a tasseled canopy. His weapons, a quiver, sword, and shield hang in the tree nearby.

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