X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Doge" 

Curator: Here we have an x-radiograph of "Portrait of a Doge," attributed to Jacopo Tintoretto. The film measures 14 by 17 inches and it's part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like peering into someone's soul, doesn't it? Seeing the ghostly underlayers, like secrets etched in light. Curator: Indeed. Radiography reveals the artist's process, pentimenti, and the materiality beneath the surface. It's a kind of visual archaeology. We can also see the ways in which the painting has been conserved. Editor: I'm struck by the subject’s closed eyes. He looks weary, perhaps burdened by the weight of his office. What do you make of the overall effect? Curator: The negative space and stark contrasts amplify the solemnity, even a hint of melancholy. The doge's averted gaze signifies introspection or perhaps detachment from the world. Editor: I think I can feel his weariness. It’s intriguing how an x-ray can convey so much emotion, even stripped of color. Curator: Yes, it transforms a portrait into a study of power, vulnerability, and the passage of time. Editor: A powerful glimpse beneath the surface – literally and figuratively.