X-radiograph(s) of "Charles d'Amboise" 

Curator: This image is an x-radiograph of the painting "Charles d'Amboise," originally by Andrea Solario. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, if I didn't know better, I'd say it was a storm cloud. All these swirling grays—it's like looking into the soul of a Renaissance painting. Curator: Indeed. The radiograph reveals the underpainting, the artist's initial layers. Notice how these earlier marks create a ghostly presence beneath the surface. Editor: It gives such an interesting perspective. The unseen foundation, the artist's struggle, suddenly visible. There's a vulnerability in seeing past the polished surface. Curator: Exactly. It speaks to the many layers of history, both artistic and cultural, embedded within a single image. Editor: I guess I never thought of art as having its own archaeology. It gives you a new way to consider artwork, doesn't it?