X-radiograph(s) of "Legend of St. Nicholas" 

Editor: Here we have a 14x17 inch X-radiograph of "Legend of St. Nicholas," originally by Neri di Bicci. It’s kind of eerie seeing the bones of the painting. What can you see in this ghostly image? Curator: It’s like an archaeological dig, isn't it? Peering beneath the surface to glimpse the artist's process. I see the density of the paint, the underdrawing, perhaps even earlier versions of the composition. Isn't it amazing how technology lets us whisper secrets with the past? What do you make of the lighter patches? Editor: I think it’s where the paint is thinner, or maybe where different materials were used? It’s wild to think about what’s hidden under the surface of paintings we admire. Curator: Exactly! It’s a reminder that every artwork has its own secret history, just waiting to be unearthed. A beautiful accident, indeed.