X-radiograph(s) of "Griselda Oliver" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Griselda Oliver" by John Singleton Copley. It's fascinating to see the layers beneath the surface! What can this X-ray tell us about Copley's process? Curator: Note the composition. The subject is centrally positioned and framed tightly. The X-ray reveals the density and distribution of the lead white pigment, informing us of Copley's deliberate build-up of form and structure. The subtle variations in tone suggest his meticulous approach to modeling. Editor: So, the X-ray lets us analyze his technique independent of the final painted surface? Curator: Precisely. We are observing the artist's underlying methodology, free from the obscuring effects of later paint layers. The image speaks to the artist’s technical proficiency and compositional rigor. Editor: That’s a completely different way of looking at a painting, I never considered that. Curator: Indeed. It moves us past simple representation, towards the materiality and the artist’s hand.