X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Saints" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Saints," after Deodato Orlandi, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums, its film measuring 14 by 17 inches. Editor: Haunting, in a way. Like seeing a ghost of devotion. The textures and skeletal structure seem to vibrate. Curator: Indeed. The X-ray reveals the underpainting, the very bones of the composition. Note the patterning on the left and right. It's quite a stark contrast against the central vertical axis. Editor: The Madonna as a continuous symbol, though rendered here in monochrome, feels charged. I see the lattice-like structure as a reference to the divine presence always being just beyond our grasp. Curator: An apt reading. The medium itself transforms our understanding, abstracting the devotional into pure form, a schema of faith if you will. Editor: Yes, revealing new layers, both physical and symbolic, to a familiar narrative. Curator: It brings to light the intersection of art and science, a fascinating combination.