X-radiograph(s) of "Mrs. Thomas Boylston" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Mrs. Thomas Boylston," originally painted by John Singleton Copley. It's fascinating to see it stripped down to its bare bones, so to speak. Editor: It's ghostly, isn't it? Almost unsettling. The texture of the canvas is so prominent, it’s as if the subject is trapped behind a screen. Curator: It's a unique view, certainly. X-rays reveal the artist's process, the hidden layers, and the materials used. Think of the history embedded in these lead-based pigments! Editor: Absolutely. And it challenges our understanding of portraiture, doesn't it? It takes away the flattering facade and exposes a kind of structural vulnerability. The sitter becomes strangely anonymous, almost a symbol of societal expectations placed on women of her class. Curator: That's a compelling point. It’s a reminder that art, even in its most representational form, is always filtered through layers of interpretation and technology. Editor: Indeed. This X-radiograph allows us to consider not just who Mrs. Boylston was, but also how she was made to appear—and what remains when those appearances are stripped away. Curator: It prompts us to consider the art's physical construction, its journey through time, and the gaze of the artist who initially captured her image.