X-radiograph(s) of "Joseph Mann" 

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Joseph Mann", the original artwork was created by John Singleton Copley. It's fascinating to see the layers beneath the surface. What can this X-ray tell us about the artwork's history and its creation? Curator: It reveals the artist's process, decisions, and even hidden elements. X-rays expose changes made during painting, reflecting evolving artistic intentions, and provide insights into 18th-century painting techniques and material culture, and what this portrait represented at the time. Editor: That's incredible. So, it's like a historical document as much as it is an art piece? Curator: Precisely! The X-ray offers a unique perspective on the social and cultural contexts that shaped the artwork. We start to see the art world as one deeply embedded with social history.