X-radiograph(s) of "Pieta" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Pieta" by Marco Basaiti, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The ghostly image reveals what lies beneath the surface. What can you tell us about the formal qualities revealed by this technique? Curator: The X-radiograph allows us to examine the artist's process, revealing the underdrawing and the density of the pigments used. Notice how the composition is structured by the stark contrast between the areas of high and low density. Editor: So, the artist's hand is revealed not just in the final image but also in these hidden layers. It's like seeing the architecture of the painting itself. Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the paint and support is laid bare, inviting a deeper consideration of the artist's technical skill and formal decisions. It's a structural analysis through light. Editor: I never thought about art in terms of layering. Curator: Well, now you have a new tool for your analytical kit.