X-radiograph(s) of "Man in Armour" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Man in Armour" after Agnolo Bronzino. It's a bit eerie, seeing the skeletal structure beneath the surface. What does this radiography reveal to you about the artwork, culturally speaking? Curator: It reveals a power dynamic inherent in portraiture of this era. Armour signifies not just military might but also social standing and privilege, shielding vulnerability, literally and figuratively. Who gets to be represented this way, and why? Editor: So, the armour is not just protection, but a symbol of social power? Curator: Precisely. And radiography allows us to look beyond the surface, questioning what lies beneath those carefully constructed images of power. It forces us to consider the artist's choices and the sitter's position within a rigid social hierarchy. Editor: That makes me rethink how I see portraits from that period. Curator: Exactly. It's about peeling back the layers of representation to understand the societal forces at play.