X-radiograph(s) of "Apotheosis of Aeneas" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Apotheosis of Aeneas" after Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a fascinating peek behind the canvas. Editor: It looks like a storm of lead white. I'm immediately drawn to the texture, or what I can discern of it. The density of paint is palpable. Curator: Absolutely. X-radiography allows us to see the underlayers, pentimenti, and the distribution of pigments, revealing much about Tiepolo’s process and workshop practices as well as later restoration efforts. Editor: It challenges the traditional emphasis on the finished surface. We’re confronted with the sheer labor of creation, the layering of materials, and the structural elements holding it all together. Curator: Indeed. It transforms our understanding from a polished presentation to a complex material object, influenced by many hands across time, impacting the perception and market value of the work. Editor: It reframes the masterpiece as a product of collective effort and material choices. Curator: A fitting reminder that even apotheosis rests on a foundation of earthly, material realities. Editor: Precisely. It’s a behind-the-scenes view of the masterpiece in a unique way.