Noli me tangere

Jesus recoils when Mary Magdalene wants to touch him: Noli me tangere – touch me not. In the Gospel of Matthew Mary grasps Jesus by the feet. It is assumed that the text was not translated properly from the Greek (ref. Titian's version).

In the background John and Peter (r.) hurry back after having found the grave empty.

Holbein may have painted this panel while in France, trying to get a position at the court of Francis I.