X-radiograph(s) of "Cardinal Mezzarota" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of Andrea Mantegna's painting, "Cardinal Mezzarota," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It has a haunting quality, like a ghostly portrait emerging. The stark contrast between light and shadow creates a sense of both revelation and mystery. Curator: Precisely. X-radiography as a technique allows us to peer beneath the surface, revealing the artist's process and materials, offering insight into artistic decisions made and perhaps later altered. Editor: And considering Mantegna's historical context, what can this technical process tell us about power, patronage, and the construction of identity through art? Is it unveiling the hidden layers of Cardinal Mezzarota's image? Curator: It’s about uncovering layers of meaning, literally and figuratively, exploring the intersections of art, science, and social history. Editor: An unexpected view that lets us look at identity through the lens of science. Curator: Absolutely, it prompts reflections on how we view and interpret art across time.