The lion, suspecting treachery on the part of the monkey, slays him and flees, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-ninth Night

c. 1560

The lion, suspecting treachery on the part of the monkey, slays him and flees, 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: 12.5 x 10 cm (4 15/16 x 3 15/16 in.); overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.197.a The monkey, who once served as the lion’s chamberlain, lies mauled and dead in the meadow. The lion, who was once a formidable ruler, has become convinced that that the monkey betrayed him. In reality, the lion fell for a trick laid by a family of clever lynx who invaded his den. A male torso, visible under the chipped paint, indicates this page was intended for another picture.