Late 17th century Bolognese painter
Circle of Carlo Cignani (Bologna 1628 – Forlì 1719)
Noli me tangere
'The Apparition of Christ to Mary Magdalene' (FULL DETAILS: LINK)
oil on canvas (120 x 92 cm - framed 132 x 103 cm.)
This is a captivating artwork, both for its rare subject matter and its painterly execution, which displays the distinctive characteristics of Emilian, and more precisely Bolognese, painting, which made it one of the most esteemed schools within the rich panorama of Italian Baroque.
The scene is undeniably pleasing, with a chiaroscuro effect that lends a beautiful plasticity to the two protagonists, and the quality of the brushwork and drawing also appear to be good.
These characteristics contribute to creating a perfect compositional balance, evoking the essential models of 17th-century classicism devised by the master Bolognese artist Guido Reni.
We are looking at the biblical episode known as 'Noli me tangere', with the apparition of the Risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene.
From the Gospel according to John, it is a theme dear to 17th-century iconography, and it depicts Christ, near the empty tomb, suddenly appearing to Magdalene, who, however, does not recognize him at first and mistakes him for 'the keeper of the garden'; as soon as the woman sees him, she tearfully asks for information about what had happened to Christ's body, to which he responds by simply calling her by name, thus finally making himself recognized.
It is at this point that Jesus utters the famous phrase Noli me tangere (in Latin, "do not hold me"), urging Mary Magdalene to let him go and to inform the disciples of his resurrection.
Jesus is depicted holding a spade (not a stick as one might think), and this iconography represents Mary Magdalene's mistake in the biblical narrative, where she does not immediately recognize Jesus, initially mistaking him for the gardener.
Delving into the attributions, the canvas shows strong stylistic and compositional affinities with the works of the master Carlo Cignani (Bologna 1628 - Forlì 1719), to the extent that its execution can be attributed to a painter from his circle.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work is sold with a gilded wooden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.
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