X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna, Child and St. John" 

Editor: So, this is an X-radiograph of "Madonna, Child and St. John" by Francesco Rizzi da Santacroce. It’s... haunting, seeing this inner structure. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: It's a potent reminder that art isn't just surface; it's a material practice embedded in social contexts. The cracks and repairs speak to the passage of time, to labor, and to the economic realities of preservation. Consider the ethics of restoration. Who decides what survives, and why? Editor: That makes me think about accessibility and who gets to engage with art history. Curator: Exactly! This image challenges us to question the narratives we inherit. It highlights the work and the choices, visible and invisible, shaping our understanding. Editor: I hadn't considered the choices made in restoration as a form of interpretation. Curator: Precisely! This challenges us to look beyond simple aesthetics.