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

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of Andrea Solario's "Portrait of a Man," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's eerie, almost ghost-like. The stark blacks and whites create a sense of mystery. Curator: Precisely. This technique allows us to see the underlayers, the artist’s process, and the materials used to construct the original painting. Editor: The visible skull beneath the surface reminds us of mortality, a common theme in portraits. It's a powerful symbol of vanitas. Curator: And the visible craquelure informs our understanding of the painting's age and handling; the materiality tells its own story. Editor: It’s fascinating how one image can reveal so much about the artwork’s hidden life, and even its symbolic significance. Curator: Indeed, this radiographic lens offers so much more than we originally imagined.