X-radiograph(s) of "Samuel Sewall" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of the portrait of Samuel Sewall attributed to John Smibert, an intriguing look beneath the surface of the artwork. Editor: It’s spectral, almost unsettling, like peering into a ghost. The textures of the canvas feel so prominent. Curator: Indeed, the process reveals not just the paint layers, but also the canvas weave itself, becoming almost a historical document revealing the material construction. It’s a reminder of the layers of history, both seen and unseen, that contribute to our understanding. Editor: The face emerges ethereally, the eyes holding a certain weight, like a memory imprinted on the very fabric. Sewall's involvement in the Salem Witch Trials and his later apology adds a heavy context. Curator: Precisely. We see not just an image, but also the weight of societal implications of the time, with Sewall as a symbol of conflicted morality in early American history. Editor: A fascinating glimpse into both artistic process and historical conscience. Curator: A process that reminds us that artworks hold multiple layers of meaning.