Tara

Tara was an artist active over a remarkably long period, with documented works spanning from 1555 to 1845. The extensive timeframe suggests the name may reference a highly productive workshop or an individual artist working within a dynastic tradition, specializing in highly detailed manuscript painting and courtly illustration.

Five works attributed to the artist are preserved in major museum collections, establishing the quality and historical import of the output. Four of these are specific illustrations from the seminal text, the Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot). These narrative scenes include The Parrot Addresses Khujasta at the Beginning of the Thirteenth Night and The deceitful wife assaults her erring husband, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night. A separate work, Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, demonstrates proficiency in formal portraiture and court documentation.

The importance of the artist is confirmed by representation in major institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Due to their institutional housing, many of these historical Tara paintings are available today as high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for scholarly study.