X-radiograph(s) of "St. Francis" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Saint Francis" after Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It's fascinating to see the painting’s under layers. What does this X-ray reveal about Murillo’s process? Curator: The X-ray reveals much about the painting’s materiality. We see the density of the pigments, the texture of the canvas, and the support structure. Think about the socio-economic context: What materials were available to Murillo? How did the cost of pigments impact the final product? Editor: So, the availability of materials shaped his artistic choices? Curator: Precisely. The X-ray allows us to analyze the labor and resources involved in creating the work, reminding us that art is always a product of its material conditions. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It makes me appreciate the painting on a much deeper level.