X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child" 

Editor: This is an x-radiograph of "Madonna and Child" after Carlo Maratti. It's fascinating to see the painting deconstructed like this! What can we learn from looking at its materials this way? Curator: This x-ray reveals the underlayers and the material history of the painting. We see how the artist built up the image, layer by layer. Where did Maratti source his pigments, and how might his patrons have influenced those choices? Editor: That's a good question! This process emphasizes the physicality and labor involved. Curator: Exactly. It challenges the traditional view of the artwork as purely spiritual, bringing it back down to earth. It is a commodity, crafted with specific materials, for a specific purpose. Editor: I never considered that. Now I will look at art with new eyes. Curator: It's about understanding the art's journey from raw materials to finished product and the social dynamics that shaped that journey.