X-radiograph(s) of "Mrs. James MacSparran (Hannah Gardiner)" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of the portrait of Mrs. James MacSparran, Hannah Gardiner, attributed to John Smibert. Editor: It’s eerie. Like a ghost trapped in the film, hinting at hidden stories beneath the surface. Curator: Exactly! X-radiography offers art historians a non-invasive way to peek beneath the visible layers. We can see underdrawings, pentimenti, even earlier compositions. It reveals the artist's process. Editor: It also unveils the hidden narratives of its sitters, the cultural norms they lived under. The gaze, the pose, the absence of something initially planned—all speaking volumes of the expectations of women in the 18th century. Curator: Indeed. This technology reveals choices that shaped the image we see and its historical context. Editor: It reminds us that every portrait is a carefully constructed performance of identity, shaped by power and societal pressures, even on a radiographic level. Curator: Absolutely. It offers a fascinating insight into the creative process and allows us to consider the socio-cultural implications of portraiture. Editor: Seeing through the surface lets us see even more clearly.