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

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of Raphael's "Madonna and Child (Terranuova Madonna)" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating to see the painting stripped back like this. What symbols or hidden meanings do you find in this image? Curator: Well, even in this ethereal state, we can discern the iconic form of the Madonna. The circular shape in the upper right might symbolize divine perfection. The X-ray reveals the material memory, hinting at the artistic process. Do you see any echoes of other Madonna images in its composition? Editor: I do. There’s a sense of serene protection, like the Madonna of Mercy. I never thought about how much a painting's cultural memory is embedded in its materials. Curator: Indeed. Even through an X-ray, the symbols persist.