The monkey, serving as the lion’s chamberlain, converses with the lynx and its mate who have arrived with their cubs to settle in the lion’s domain, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night

c. 1560

The monkey, serving as the lion’s chamberlain, converses with the lynx and its mate who have arrived with their cubs to settle in the lion’s domain, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; painting only: 7.7 x 10.3 cm (3 1/16 x 4 1/16 in.); overall: 20 x 14.2 cm (7 7/8 x 5 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.193.a While the lion is away, the monkey is put in charge of protecting his land. However, a family of lynx soon move into the lion’s den, claiming that they are the rightful owners. The text depicts the lion’s home as a beautiful meadow with a field of tulips. The artist has faithfully rendered the distinctive tufts on the ears of all five lynxes.