Floor plan

Time and placeThe 16th century

The 16th century

Kaiwan, Latif, and Sharif arrive at a house of worship, where they seek help from Khurshid who has become a mystical healer, from a Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-second Night, c. 1560
This is a painting depicting a heraldic coat of arms. The image features a detailed coat of arms with a central shield, adorned with black and gold sections, and additional decorative elements above it. There is a figure resembling a unicorn emerging from the crest. The background is a deep red hue. The artwork is displayed within a wooden frame with crossbars. This style is associated with displaying family crests and lineage.
Portrait of a Young Man, by Agnolo Bronzino, 1530s
Latona Giving Birth to Apollo and Diana on the Island of Delos, by Diana Scultori, 1561-1565
The image features a landscape view of a medieval village scene. It includes a stone bridge over a river, buildings, a church with a tower, trees, hills, mountains, and cloudy sky. The image is depicted in intricate detail using a monochromatic palette, focusing on contrasts of light and shadow.
The magician disguised as a Brahman returns to claim his “daughter-in-law,” from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-fifth Night, c. 1560
This is a drawing of a heraldic emblem. The image shows a centaur-like figure holding a bow and arrow, with leaves around its head. Below, there is a shield divided into two sections: the upper part shows shapes resembling birds, while the lower part shows a hound-like animal in a running pose. The shield is surrounded by swirling acanthus-like leaves, with additional decorative elements and a blank scroll space below it.
Ceres and Bacchus, by Bartholomaeus Spranger, 1600s

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

Works made in the 16th century, anywhere in the world.

First room, north wall

  1. Kaiwan, Latif, and Sharif arrive at a house of worship, where they seek help from Khurshid who has become a mystical healer, from a Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-second Night, c. 1560
    Kaiwan, Latif, and Sharif arrive at a house of worship, where they seek help from Khurshid who has become a mystical healer, from a Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-second NightUnrecorded Indian maker, c. 1560Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. This is a painting depicting a heraldic coat of arms. The image features a detailed coat of arms with a central shield, adorned with black and gold sections, and additional decorative elements above it. There is a figure resembling a unicorn emerging from the crest. The background is a deep red hue. The artwork is displayed within a wooden frame with crossbars. This style is associated with displaying family crests and lineage.
    Hans Roth [reverse]Bernhard Strigel, 1527Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. Portrait of a Young Man, by Agnolo Bronzino, 1530s
    Portrait of a Young ManAgnolo Bronzino, 1530sCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  4. Latona Giving Birth to Apollo and Diana on the Island of Delos, by Diana Scultori, 1561-1565
    Latona Giving Birth to Apollo and Diana on the Island of DelosDiana Scultori, 1561-1565Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

First room, south wall

  1. The image features a landscape view of a medieval village scene. It includes a stone bridge over a river, buildings, a church with a tower, trees, hills, mountains, and cloudy sky. The image is depicted in intricate detail using a monochromatic palette, focusing on contrasts of light and shadow.
    Mountainous Landscape with a VillageHanns Lautensack, 1553Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The magician disguised as a Brahman returns to claim his “daughter-in-law,” from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-fifth Night, c. 1560
    The magician disguised as a Brahman returns to claim his “daughter-in-law,” from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Thirty-fifth NightUnrecorded Indian maker, c. 1560Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. This is a drawing of a heraldic emblem. The image shows a centaur-like figure holding a bow and arrow, with leaves around its head. Below, there is a shield divided into two sections: the upper part shows shapes resembling birds, while the lower part shows a hound-like animal in a running pose. The shield is surrounded by swirling acanthus-like leaves, with additional decorative elements and a blank scroll space below it.
    CrestMichel Le BlonCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. Ceres and Bacchus, by Bartholomaeus Spranger, 1600s
    Ceres and BacchusBartholomaeus Spranger, 1600sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Second room, south wall

  1. Two women and a man support the gray, lifeless body of a nearly nude man along a stone ledge in this vertical painting. The people have pale skin, except for the dead man at the center, Jesus, who has ash-white skin with dark shadows around his closed eyes. He has a long straight nose, and his lips are slightly parted. He has a brown beard, and his long, wavy hair falls away from his face. A white cloth wraps across his hips, and blood trickles from a gash over his right ribs and holes in his feet. A woman and man prop him up on either side, each holding Jesus by a limp arm, and each has a faint, gold halo encircling their heads. To our left, the woman holds her face close to his, her brows deeply furrowed and her mouth wide open, teeth showing. Her forehead, chin, and neck are covered by a white veil, worn under navy-blue cloak that covers her head and body. The cloak falls open over one arm and a bent knee to reveal her long-sleeved, lighter blue dress. On Jesus’s other side, a cleanshaven man with curly brown hair holds Jesus’s arm with both hands. The man’s eyes squint with tears as he tips his head toward Jesus. His pink lips are parted, and the corner of the mouth we can see is pulled down. He wears an emerald-green, long-sleeved tunic under a vivid red cloth that wraps around his right arm, waist, and left leg. The fourth and final person is a woman sitting on the ground, her arms wrapped tightly around Jesus’s crossed ankles. She sits with one foot tucked under her body and the other leg out straight. Waist-length, wavy, auburn-brown hair falls freely over her shoulders and across her face, but we can see her downturned, open mouth and nearly closed eyes. She wears a rose-pink dress, cinched at the waist. A brown cloth wraps around her waist and right leg. A cylindrical, lidded, white jar sits on the dirt ground nearby. The group is arranged in front a thigh-high stone ledge, except for the man in green and red, who steps into what is presumably the coffin. A rocky outcropping to our right has a cave-like opening with grasses and growth along the top. The landscape beyond has a dirt path winding between pine-green hills dotted with trees. Two slate-blue buildings perch atop one hill. White clouds float across the blue sky above.
    PietàMoretto da Brescia, 1520sCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. A work made of engraving on paper.
    Title page, from The Seven VicesHieronymous Wierix, c. 1598Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Arm of Eve, by Albrecht Dürer, 1507
    Arm of EveAlbrecht Dürer, 1507Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  4. Melencolia I, by Albrecht Dürer, 1514
    Melencolia IAlbrecht Dürer, 1514Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Second room, north wall

  1. "A King Offers to Make Amends to a Bereaved Mother", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, by Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, 1597–98
    "A King Offers to Make Amends to a Bereaved Mother", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau DihlaviAmir Khusrau Dihlavi, 1597–98Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. "Portrait of Maharaja Bhim Kanwar", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, by Nanha, verso: ca. 1615–29; recto: ca. 1540
    "Portrait of Maharaja Bhim Kanwar", Folio from the Shah Jahan AlbumNanha, verso: ca. 1615–29; recto: ca. 1540Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. This is a drawing of two armored figures on horseback engaged in a joust. Both knights are clad in ornate armor and mounted on horses as they participate in the match. The scene captures the moment of impact, with splintered lances flying in the air. One knight in silver armor with blue accents is being unseated from his horse, while the other knight in red and silver armor remains mounted. Both horses are draped in colors matching their riders' armors. The focus is on the dynamic action and energy of the joust, with fine details showing the armor's shine and the movement of the horses. The drawing is bordered, and there is some script at the top and bottom.
    Italian Joust of PeaceUnrecorded German maker, c.1512-1515Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. The image shows an etching of a rural landscape with trees obscuring the horizon. In the distance, there is a cart on a winding path with a person walking beside it. Closer to the viewer, there is a person with a child under a tree, accompanied by a small dog. The artwork features fine and detailed brushwork with cross-hatching for texture and shadows. The color scheme is monochromatic in muted browns, emphasizing details and creating a peaceful scene under soft light filtered through the trees. The trees form a canopy framing the serene setting.
    Edge of a Wood with Peasants Going to MarketJean MorinCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington