Noli me tangere

Lavinia Fontana's 'Noli me tangere' exemplifies her skill in religious painting within the Mannerism (late renaissance) style. As Italy’s first successful female professional artist, Fontana masterfully captures the biblical moment when the resurrected Christ appears to Mary Magdalene, emphasizing elongated figures and sophisticated composition characteristic of Mannerism. Her work reflects her training by her father, Prospero Fontana, and her reputation in Bologna and Rome for portraiture and religious themes. Notably, she was among the first female artists to depict female nudes, a controversial topic among art historians.