Scenes from the life of Mary Magdalene (four predella panels - a. Christ teaching; b. feast in the house of Simon; c. Noli me Tangere; d. last moments of the Magdalene)
- Artist: Sandro Botticelli
- Date: 1930
- Medium: oil on photographic print mounted on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "Scenes from the life of Mary Magdalene" (four predella panels - a. Christ teaching; b. feast in the house of Simon; c. Noli me Tangere; d. last moments of the Magdalene) by Sandro Botticelli. The work, dated 1930, uses oil on a photographic print mounted on panel, a technique that blends traditional paint with photographic realism. In the first panel, Christ is depicted in a quiet, contemplative pose, his gestures suggesting a teaching moment to his followers. The second panel shows a lively banquet in Simon the Pharisee’s house, capturing the social dynamics of the time. The third panel is perhaps the most iconic: the Noli me Tangere scene, where a startled Mary Magdalene sees the resurrected Christ, her expression a mix of awe and recognition. Finally, the last panel moves from the miraculous to the mortal, portraying the humble, sorrowful moments of Mary Magdalene’s life as she mourns and reflects on her past. Together, the four panels tell a narrative arc that moves from instruction to celebration, revelation, and reflection, inviting viewers to follow the spiritual journey of Mary Magdalene through Botticelli’s sensitive brushwork and evocative composition.
See it in person
Scenes from the life of Mary Magdalene (four predella panels - a. Christ teaching; b. feast in the house of Simon; c. Noli me Tangere; d. last moments of the Magdalene) hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
