X-radiograph(s) of "Gore Children" 

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of John Singleton Copley's "Gore Children," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Its dimensions are 14 by 17 inches. Editor: Intriguing! It has a spectral quality—like a memory or a ghost. The texture is also quite prominent. Curator: Indeed. The radiography allows us to observe the internal structure, the layering of the paint, revealing the artist's process and any hidden details beneath the surface. Editor: Looking closely, one discerns youthful visages. The children, though rendered in monochrome here, evoke a sense of innocence, vulnerable to time’s erosions—a memento mori. Curator: The stark contrast between the dark and light areas emphasizes the skeletal structure, providing an abstract interpretation. Editor: It transforms a portrait into a meditation on mortality and the passage of time. Food for thought, certainly. Curator: Precisely. A fascinating example of how modern technology can change the way we look at historical art.