X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints," a work originally by Sano di Pietro, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Quite the spectral view, isn't it? Editor: Spectral indeed! It looks like the hidden bones of a memory. All those ghostly figures hinting at the story they once told. Curator: X-rays expose layers beneath the visible surface, so what do you make of the revealed substructure and underpainting in the context of devotional imagery? Editor: It's like seeing the artist's process, the evolution of the image, and yet it almost becomes an icon of knowledge itself, revealing truths about the artwork that we could not otherwise see. A hidden story that becomes another narrative layer. Curator: I agree—it is not just about materials but about the human element involved in artistic creation, even faith. Editor: Exactly! And that feels incredibly moving, doesn't it?