X-radiograph(s) of "Apollo and Diana" 

Curator: Here we have an x-radiograph of "Apollo and Diana," after Lucas Cranach the Elder, from the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. It’s… skeletal. Almost ghostly. Editor: It looks like we are peeking behind the curtain, past the initial image, and into the structure and creation of the work. Curator: Exactly. X-radiography allows conservators and art historians to examine the underdrawing, pentimenti, and other hidden details within a painting. Editor: It's like the painting's bones laid bare. I'm oddly moved by this glimpse into what's normally invisible. Curator: For me, it’s fascinating to see how an artist like Cranach, or his workshop, built up the composition, layer by layer. Editor: It’s a good reminder that even the most seemingly effortless masterpieces are born from labor. Curator: Indeed. The image reveals the cultural and historical context of the work by showing the artist's methods. Editor: Suddenly, I feel a connection to the unseen labor, to the artist’s hand… Curator: Hopefully, it helps us appreciate the finished painting even more. Editor: I think it does. What a strange, beautiful perspective.