X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna Enthroned" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Madonna Enthroned," by Nicolas de Largillière. It feels so ghostly and reveals hidden layers! What can this X-ray tell us about the painting's creation? Curator: This image exposes the artist's process, the material reality of the work. We see the underpainting, pentimenti – the changes made. The X-ray unveils labor, the artist's hand at work constructing this image, revealing the materiality that underpins the final illusion. Editor: So it's like a material record of the artist's choices? Curator: Precisely. It shows not just the 'what' but the 'how,' reminding us that even seemingly divine images are constructed through very human, material processes. Editor: That's a fascinating perspective. It changes how I see the finished painting. Curator: Indeed, the material history informs and enriches the aesthetic experience.