X-radiograph(s) of "St. John" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "St. John" by Piero di Cosimo, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks almost like a strange grid. What does this reveal about the painting’s history and the artist's process? Curator: It shows how the museum's approach to art has shifted. X-radiography allows us to see beneath the surface, revealing earlier compositions. How does understanding an artist's revisions change our perception of the finished work and its value? Editor: It makes it feel more human, like the artist was figuring things out. Curator: Precisely. And what does it say about our need to dissect and understand art, moving beyond just aesthetic appreciation to a scientific inquiry? Editor: That’s a great point, it changes our relationship with the artwork. Curator: Indeed. It invites us to consider what we prioritize: the finished image, or the journey of its creation within a complex cultural and institutional framework?