X-radiograph(s) of "Birth of Bacchus" Possibly 8 - 48

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Birth of Bacchus," originally by Nicolas Poussin, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It measures about 35 by 43 centimeters. Editor: Stark! My first impression is a ghostly unveiling. It has an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality, the forms emerging from a veiled background. Curator: Indeed. Radiography allows us to see beneath the surface, revealing the artist’s process, the underpainting, the changes made. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes look at artistic creation. Editor: And Bacchus, the god of wine, ecstasy, theatre...it casts the celebration of birth in an entirely new symbolic light when viewed this way. Curator: Absolutely. This image offers a glimpse into the artist's choices and, in a way, the very physical history of the artwork itself. Editor: Seeing the bones beneath the skin...It certainly gives me a fresh perspective on the piece.