Icon with the Noli me tangere
- Gallery: Room 46
- Made in: Crete
- Date: 17thC
- Object type: icon
- Materials: wood; gold
- Museum number: 1994,0501.3
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
Before you is an icon titled "Icon with the Noli me tangere," made in Crete and dating to the 17th century. This is a detailed painted panel on cypress wood, enhanced with gold leaf and egg tempera. The frame, once vibrant in orange-red, shows some wear, particularly on the lower left.
At the center is the scene known as the Noli me tangere, or “Touch me not,” where the resurrected Christ greets Mary Magdalene. Christ, in radiant gold robes, holds a scroll and turns to address her. The wounds of the crucifixion are clearly shown on his body, emphasizing the miraculous nature of his resurrection.
The icon is rich with additional scenes from the first Easter morning, including the empty tomb and Mary’s encounter with angels. Greek inscriptions in red and black lettering identify these scenes and quote the Gospels directly. This composition draws from a tradition in Cretan icon painting, influenced by both Byzantine and Renaissance styles.
See it in person
Icon with the Noli me tangere is on display in Room 46 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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