X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child," attributed to the circle of Benozzo Gozzoli. The film itself measures 14 by 17 inches. Editor: It's haunting, like a ghost of a painting. The Madonna's form feels almost translucent, revealing layers beneath. Curator: Precisely. X-radiography allows us to peer beneath the surface, uncovering the artist's process and hidden details. Think of the labor involved in creating the pigments, the preparation of the panel. Editor: And the layers of meaning embedded in the Madonna and Child motif. It speaks to universal themes of motherhood, divinity, and the continuity of faith. Curator: Indeed, the iconography is potent. The X-ray reveals not just the physical underpainting but also echoes of centuries of devotion and artistic tradition. Editor: It's fascinating to see a work this way – not just as the finished image, but as an object born of materials, technique, and cultural weight. Curator: Agreed. This radiographic view transforms a familiar image into a window onto the past, revealing the physical and symbolic depths of art.