X-radiograph(s) of "Adoration of Kings" Possibly 4 - 77

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of "Adoration of Kings," a painting by Cosmè Tura, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It’s eerie, like looking at a ghost. The stark black and white reveals hidden layers, but the grid imposed on the surface gives it an oddly clinical feel. Curator: Precisely. X-radiography allows us to see beyond the surface, analyzing the artist's technique, revealing underdrawings or alterations made during the painting process. It's a dialogue between art and science. Editor: Right, you can almost feel the history of labor, the density of the materials layered upon one another. Were they trying to identify specific pigments or structural repairs? Curator: Most likely, yes. These images give us a glimpse into the conservation process and the layers of cultural investment in artworks over time. Editor: Seeing it like this makes me consider the painting as an object, subject to the same scrutiny as any other artifact—which is strangely compelling. Curator: Indeed, it offers a unique perspective on the lifespan and evolving significance of a work of art.