X-radiograph(s) of "Margaret Fayerweather Bromfield (b.1732, d. 1761)" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of John Singleton Copley's portrait of Margaret Fayerweather Bromfield, who lived from 1732 to 1761. Editor: My first impression is one of ghostliness. The image is stripped bare, almost like a soul laid bare, with such stark contrast. Curator: It's fascinating to consider how this process reveals hidden information, the underpainting and material structure, almost violating the subject's privacy. It also speaks to the construction of identity in colonial portraiture. Editor: Absolutely, it also speaks to mortality. The X-ray reduces her to the very essence of being—bones and the chemical makeup of the paint. Curator: It certainly makes you rethink the original portrait's intent to project status and permanence. Editor: Yes, the symbols of status are gone, leaving only the underlying, ephemeral self. A potent memento mori indeed. Curator: It forces a re-evaluation of our relationship with the artwork, and even the sitter, prompting questions about representation and historical narrative. Editor: A chilling, but illuminating glimpse beneath the surface, both literally and figuratively.