Artwork
Noli me tangere (April)
Noli me tangere (April) is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Marten van Valckenborch. It dates from 1593 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Marten van Valckenborch’s *Noli me tangere (April)*, painted in 1593, is an oil work that exemplifies the Mannerist approach to landscape. Executed during the artist’s mature period, the canvas is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings and reflects his reputation for integrating figures within expansive natural settings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a man in a vivid red cloak on a craggy slope, gesturing toward a kneeling woman in a pale yellow robe who clutches a small jar. The woman’s turned‑away gaze suggests attentive listening, while the surrounding countryside, with a distant village and river, frames the intimate encounter.
Technique & Style
Van Valckenborch employs smooth, layered brushwork to achieve a luminous quality, particularly evident in the soft glow of the woman’s robe and the atmospheric hills. The subtle modulation of light, likely achieved through glazing, creates a gentle, moonlit ambience across the landscape.
History & Provenance
Born in the Spanish Netherlands, van Valckenborch later settled in Frankfurt, where he and his extended family contributed to the city’s artistic life. *Noli me tangere (April)* entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection, where it remains on display as a representative example of his later output.
Context
The painting belongs to the broader tradition of Flemish landscape painting, yet its Mannerist stylization—elongated figures, heightened colors, and an idealized natural world—distinguishes it from more naturalistic contemporaries. The work reflects the period’s interest in merging narrative scenes with detailed topographical elements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marten van Valckenborch or Marten van Valckenborch the Elder (1535 in Leuven – 1612 in Frankfurt), was a Flemish Renaissance painter, mainly known for his landscapes and city scapes.
Feeding the Five Thousand (July)
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (March)
Christ defends the plucking of the ears of grain on the Sabbath (August)
Gleichnis von den bösen Winzern (Oktober)
Parable of the lily of the field (May)
Adoration of the Magi (January)
Parable of Christ as the Good Shepherd (June)
Parable of the sower (September)
