Do not touch me (1511 – 1512) by Titian

Do not touch me - Titian - 1511 - 1512

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Artwork Information

TitleDo not touch me
ArtistTitian
Date1511 - 1512
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions109 x 91 cm
Art MovementHigh Renaissance
Current LocationNational Gallery, London, UK

About Do not touch me

The artwork, “Do not touch me,” is a painting by the revered artist Titian, created in the period 1511 – 1512. This High Renaissance oil on canvas measures 109 by 91 centimeters and falls under the genre of religious painting. It is currently housed at the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom.

In the artwork, the central scene depicts an encounter between two biblical figures in a lush landscape setting. The female figure, traditionally identified as Mary Magdalene, is clad in a flowing red gown and knelt on the ground with an expression of veneration and surprise. She reaches out towards the male figure, who stands before her, partially draped in a translucent sky-blue shawl, while firmly yet gently restraining her gesture. This male figure is identified as the resurrected Jesus Christ, who is depicted holding a tool associated with gardening—a possible reference to his appearance as a gardener. The background features an idyllic setting with a verdant countryside landscape, a large tree prominently positioned on the left, and architectural structures in the mid-distance, all beneath a sky suggestive of either dawn or dusk.

The delicate interplay of light and color, the detailed representation of nature, and the expressive figures all serve to embody Titian’s mastery of the High Renaissance ideals of humanism, beauty, and naturalism. The artwork invites contemplation on the biblical narrative and its theological implications, offering a profound visual meditation on the theme of recognition and divine commission after the Resurrection, as narrated in the Christian tradition.

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