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

Curator: We’re looking at an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child," attributed to Barnaba da Modena, here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s eerie, like peering into the soul of a painting. The stark black and white gives it a ghostly feel. Curator: Exactly! This technique reveals underdrawings, pigment distribution, and even past restorations invisible to the naked eye. Editor: So, it's like archeology, peeling back layers of time and artistic intent. Fascinating to see how the artist built up the composition. Curator: Think about it—we’re seeing the bones of a devotional image, the scaffolding that supports the spiritual narrative. Editor: That contrast between the sacred subject and the scientific process gives me a strange sort of thrill. Curator: It really bridges art and science, doesn't it? Editor: I must say, I’m left with a deeper sense of the artwork's hidden history. Curator: Indeed, it's a reminder that every masterpiece holds secrets beneath the surface.