Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene as a Gardener (Noli me tangere)

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 with the dramatic chiaroscuro and emotional depth of Baroque style. Executed in pen and brown ink with a framing line, this modest sheet (154 × 191 mm) exemplifies the preparatory sketches prized in 17th-century Dutch ateliers. Such drawings allowed artists to explore composition and expression swiftly, often serving as studies for larger paintings, and highlight Bol's skill in conveying narrative with economical strokes. This piece reflects the era's fascination with sacred stories, blending humanism and spirituality. Visitors will appreciate how Bol's restrained technique draws us into the mystery of resurrection, a theme that resonated deeply in Protestant Netherlands, making faith vivid and personal.

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