X-radiograph(s) of "St. Peter Released" 

Curator: Here, we have an x-radiograph of "St. Peter Released," originally created by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. It’s currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s quite ghostly, almost like a photographic negative. The rough texture also gives an odd sense of depth and mystery. Curator: It shows us the underpainting and structure beneath the surface; a glimpse into the artist's process, almost as if we’re seeing through time. The x-ray reveals the stages of creation hidden beneath the visible painting. Editor: Absolutely, it’s a powerful reminder of the hidden layers of meaning and labor embedded in every artwork, and how those elements influence the experience of art in general. It shifts our perspective. Curator: Indeed. It underscores the importance of institutions in preserving not just the final product but its history and process as well. Editor: Precisely, and in this image, the means of preservation become art themselves.