X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child with St. John and an Angel" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child with St. John and an Angel," originally by Perugino. What strikes you first? Editor: There's an eerie quality, a sense of ghostly presence. It's like looking at the skeletal structure of a well-known narrative. Curator: Absolutely. The Madonna iconography often represents idealized motherhood, but here we see the layers beneath, a literal and perhaps metaphorical deconstruction. Editor: The figures are almost obscured by the process, which gives a sense of revealing something hidden in the cultural memory, a kind of archeological dig. Curator: The artist’s hand is present, yet absent. What we are left with is an intersection of science, art and our understanding of Renaissance values. Editor: I find it intriguing how this medium transforms a familiar scene into something almost surreal. A potent reminder of the stories we tell ourselves. Curator: I agree, a perfect blend of science and reflection.