Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What biblical events are combined in Giotto’s Noli me tangere?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Giotto
Lamentation, fresco by Giotto, 1303–05; in the Arena Chapel, Padua, Italy.
In his fresco Noli me tangere (c. 1304–1306) located in the Arena Chapel, Giotto combines two distinct biblical events into a single composition:
- The Resurrection of Christ: Represented on the left side of the painting, where an angel is depicted sitting on the tomb, serving as a witness to the event.1
- The Appearance to Mary Magdalene: Represented on the right side, where the encounter between the resurrected Jesus and Mary Magdalene takes place. This scene illustrates the moment Jesus speaks the words "Noli me tangere" ("touch me not") to Mary after she mistakes him for a gardener.1
By conflating these two moments, Giotto emphasizes the narrative transition between the empty tomb and Christ’s miraculous appearance, utilizing his characteristic psychological depth to convey the emotional intensity of the encounter.1