The cat attacks the mice which disturb the lion, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Nightc. 1560 · Study 1962.279.115.b

Context from the museum

One day came when the cat brought one of his sons to substitute for him as guardian against the mice, so that he could have some time away to visit his other children. That night the young cat killed all of the mice, as shown in this painting, after which the lion had no need for a cat anymore and relieved him of his position as Magistrate of the Court. The text reads: "The cat said to his son, ‘The spark of this calamity was set by you, and the robe of this disaster was tailored by you. If you had not annihilated the mice and had not entirely relieved the lion’s heart of his grief, he would not have dismissed me.’ The young cat was filled with remorse for having killed the mice." By the time the parrot finished telling the story, daybreak came and it was too late for Khujasta to rendezvous with her lover under the cover of darkness.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

The same anonymous artist completed all three pages in the story of the lion and the mice.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting only measurement for The cat attacks the mice which disturb the lion, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night is 10.1 cm wide and 8.9 cm high, equivalent to approximately 4.0 × 3.5 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.13:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.01 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 3.4% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 144.9 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With The cat attacks the mice which disturb the lion, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 10.1 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?