X-radiograph(s) of "Thomas Boylston" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of John Singleton Copley's portrait of Thomas Boylston. The image is ghostly, almost spectral. What resonates with you? Editor: It feels like a hidden truth, like looking beneath the surface of 18th-century Boston society. What can this X-ray tell us that the portrait itself doesn't? Curator: The X-ray reveals the material underpinnings of representation. Boylston, a wealthy benefactor, is presented through layers of paint and canvas. But what about the societal structures supporting his privilege? Editor: So, the X-ray makes us question the power dynamics inherent in portraiture? Curator: Precisely. It unveils not just the artist's technique, but also the sitter's position within a system of wealth and social standing. It makes me think about who gets remembered, and how. Editor: That's a powerful way to look at it. I'll definitely think about that when I see the original painting.