X-radiograph(s) of "Christ and Angels (Choir Freieze)" 

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we have an X-radiograph of "Christ and Angels (Choir Frieze)," attributed to Hans Memling. Editor: It’s haunting. The image appears veiled, revealing a hidden structure. You can almost see the layers of creation, a ghostly echo of the artist's process. Curator: Indeed. X-radiography allows us to peer beneath the surface, exposing not just the artist’s technique but also revealing earlier artistic decisions, like changes to the composition or the materials employed. Editor: It makes you think about the labour involved. The layering of paint, the careful selection of wood, all meant to communicate a celestial message—it’s quite earthly when you look at it this way. Curator: The symbols of faith and transcendence are still there, even in this spectral form. The angels, the divine light, it's all part of a visual language that speaks across centuries. Editor: This image has certainly made me appreciate the physicality inherent in even the most ethereal artistic visions. Curator: Absolutely, a fascinating look beneath the surface.