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What does the Latin phrase noli me tangere mean in Giotto’s fresco?
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Giotto
Lamentation, fresco by Giotto, 1303–05; in the Arena Chapel, Padua, Italy.
In the context of Giotto’s fresco, the Latin phrase noli me tangere translates to "touch me not."1
The phrase refers to the biblical account in the Gospel According to John regarding the first appearance of Jesus Christ to Mary Magdalene following his resurrection. In the scene, Mary Magdalene discovers the tomb is empty and initially mistakes Jesus for a gardener. When Jesus reveals his identity to her, he instructs her not to touch him because he has not yet ascended to his father.1
Giotto’s depiction of this event in the Arena Chapel captures this moment of profound psychological and emotional tension, illustrating Christ’s transition between earthly and divine realms through his posture and his glance back toward Mary.1