The prince being taken away for execution on the false complaint of the handmaiden, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
Unknown Artist
c. 1560
Medium
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
20 × 13.9 cm · painting only: 5.7 × 10.1 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry
Accession Number
1962.279.56.b
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Embarrassed and angry that the prince rejected her advances, and worried that he will tell the king of her misconduct, the handmaiden preempts him by falsely accuses the prince of assaulting her. Since he has taken a vow of silence, he does not defend himself, so the king orders the prince to be beheaded.