X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Man" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of Sebastiano del Piombo’s "Portrait of a Man," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The stark contrast between light and dark creates a rather ghostly image. What can we learn from this? Curator: It allows us to analyze the underlying structure. Observe the density variations, the pentimenti. They reveal the artist's process, a dialogue with the canvas. The composition emerges from the initial sketch to the final form. Editor: So, the radiograph helps us see the evolution of the work, not just the finished product? Curator: Precisely. It is the architecture of the artistic vision, revealing the painting's inherent structure. It's about the composition, the visual relationships, irrespective of subject matter. Editor: That's a fascinating insight into the artist's intent. Curator: Indeed. The materiality itself speaks volumes.