Habbaza meets Bashir under a tree, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth Night

c. 1560

Habbaza meets Bashir under a tree, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-fourth 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: 13.8 x 10 cm (5 7/16 x 3 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.168.b Habbaza clandestinely meets with her lover Bashir outside of her village. The two lovers have been separated by Habbaza’s husband, who learned of their affair. Bahir’s friend, who arranged the secret meeting, waits at the right. The lower register shows a scene of the activity in Habbaza’s village. The dark sky indicates that this scene takes place at night.