Artwork
Noli Me Tangere
Noli Me Tangere is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Pietro Perugino. It dates from 1502 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Noli Me Tangere is a tempera painting depicting a scene from the New Testament. It was originally part of a predella, a series of small narrative panels forming the base of an altarpiece.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Mary Magdalene kneeling in a garden, reaching out to the resurrected Jesus, who steps back and raises his hand in a gesture of restraint. The scene represents a moment of revelation, as Jesus's divine nature is made known to Mary Magdalene.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by a serene and formal composition, with figures set against a neatly arranged landscape. The use of tempera on panel, later transferred to canvas, is notable for its detail and color.
History & Provenance
The painting was part of a predella, accompanied by other scenes from Christ's life, including the Resurrection, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The main altarpiece panel that surmounted the predella remains unidentified.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro Perugino (US: PERR-ə-JEE-noh, -oo-; Italian: ; born Pietro Vannucci or Pietro Vanucci; c.
