X-radiograph(s) of "Brass Crosby" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of John Singleton Copley's portrait "Brass Crosby", residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Eerie. It's a ghost, a shadow, revealing something hidden beneath what we see. Curator: Indeed. X-rays like this offer insight into the artist's process, revealing underdrawings, pentimenti, and the very structure of the artwork. Editor: So, we're getting a peek behind the curtain. It makes me think about the layers of labor involved in its creation. What materials were used, and how was it built up, physically? Curator: It speaks volumes about cultural memory, doesn't it? We see the familiar form represented, yet also the invisible layers. Editor: The layers of creation and the hidden structure; quite profound. Curator: An unusual perspective on process and the enduring weight of portraiture.