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

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child" by Giovanni Bellini, although undated, the piece has an ethereal quality. What strikes you about the composition of this work? Curator: The radiographic technique reveals the underlying structure, the artist's process itself. We see the materiality laid bare. Note the contrast between the dense lead white and the transparent grounds. The texture, too, contributes to the image’s depth. Editor: So the medium itself becomes part of the message. Curator: Precisely. The radiographic process exposes layers of artistic construction, highlighting both intention and chance. It offers a unique lens to consider Bellini's aesthetic choices. Editor: I'll never look at an X-ray the same way again!