Antonio CAMPELO (1525-1587) - Noli me Tangere

Antonio CAMPELO
Lisbon (?), c.1525 - Idem, 1587

Noli me Tangere
circa,1551-1555

Pen and brown ink wash, white gouache highlights on ochre-brown prepared paper, full lining

250 x 288 mm

Provenance: Turin, private collection.

Our drawing, whose pictorial aspect could testify to a project for a painting, presents many similarities with drawings that can be dated to the beginning of the artist's stay in Rome, between 1551 and 1555. Indeed, there are similarities with two sheets in the MNAA (inv. 58 and inv.379), with details such as the fingertips of the hands, the feet, the profiles and the gouache highlights. Later, Antonio Campelo lightened his washes and outlines, gradually eliminating the white highlights. However, he retained the rendering of voluminous drapery and well-built morphologies. The formal consistency of Christ's locks and Madeleine's refined hairstyle are essential clues to their attribution to this artist, who introduced the Mannerist movement to Portugal on his return around 1570.

Our drawing is presented with a false margin, in good condition, with mounting and frame.