Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene as a Gardener (Noli me tangere)
c. 1640
Medium
pen and brown ink; framing line in brown ink
Dimensions
191; 154
About this artwork
height 154 mm x width 191 mm
Art Historical Context
In the intimate drawing *Christ Appearing to Mary as a Gardener (oli me tangere)* created around 1640 by Ferdinand Bol, we witness a poignant biblical moment from the Gospel of John. Here, the resurrected Christ encounters Mary Magdalene in the garden, initially mistaken for a gardener. With a gentle gesture, he utters "Noli me tangere—"Do not touch me"—izing his transformed, divine state. Bol masterfully captures this tender exchange through fluid lines, evoking surprise and reverence in the figures. Ferdinand Bol, a prominent Dutch Golden Age artist and pupil of Rembrandt, infused his work ...
About the Artist
Ferdinand Bol · 1616–1680
As a very young man, Bol moved to Amsterdam, where he worked under the direction of Rembrandt, with whom he formed a friendship. Comment on works: Religious; History; Portraits