X-radiograph(s) of "John Turner" 

Curator: Here we have an x-radiograph of "John Turner," a portrait attributed to John Smibert. The film itself measures 14 x 17 inches. Editor: There's something hauntingly beautiful about seeing the layers beneath the surface, like glimpsing a ghost. It’s as if time itself is made visible. Curator: Indeed. Radiography reveals the artist's process, the initial composition and any alterations made during the painting's creation. We can see pentimenti, changes in the design. Editor: It’s almost archaeological, this uncovering. We peel back the paint to expose not just the artist's hand, but the very bones of the artwork. Curator: Precisely. It grants a unique insight into artistic decision-making, and reveals a timeline beneath the surface. Editor: It makes me wonder what secrets other paintings hold, and what we might find if we could only see beneath the skin of the art. Curator: A compelling thought, and a reminder that what we see is rarely the complete story. Editor: Well, I know I will never look at another painting the same way again.