The merchant hears of his wife’s unfaithfulness (above); the unfaithful wife performs penance by plucking her hair (below), from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): First Night

c. 1560

The merchant hears of his wife’s unfaithfulness (above); the unfaithful wife performs penance by plucking her hair (below), from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): First Night, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; painting only: 16.3 x 10.3 cm (6 7/16 x 4 1/16 in.); overall: 20 x 13.6 cm (7 7/8 x 5 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.10.b In the upper register the merchant is surrounded by gossiping members of his household. Below, birds surround his unfaithful wife. The merchant’s parrot, whom the wife tried to kill, perches on the edge of a tomb to observe her act of penance. Once her penance is complete, the parrot reunites the couple, and the wife is welcomed home. The birds in the garden have gathered in in sympathy with the parrot’s plight.