X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child" after Nicolò Rondinelli, now part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. The film itself measures about 35 by 43 centimeters. Editor: It looks like a ghost! Hauntingly ethereal, with that strange grid laid over the image. Curator: The grid is likely a registration marker, aiding in its analysis. But consider this: it is not the painting, but its elemental composition we see. We witness the labor behind the image, the alchemical mixing of materials. Editor: And yet, the archetypal Madonna and Child remains, even in skeletal form. The eternal mother, the divine child—symbols that transcend time and material. Curator: Indeed, but the process reveals so much. It questions the very sanctity of the object by laying bare its construction, inviting scrutiny of both creation and consumption. Editor: It reminds us that even through layers of interpretation and technological dissection, the underlying themes of love and protection endure, speaking to our most basic human needs. Curator: A fine point. It’s a powerful reminder that even a scientific image can reveal cultural and artistic truths beyond the visible surface. Editor: Absolutely, an X-ray revealing not just pigment, but our shared humanity.