X-radiograph(s) of "Virgin and Child" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Virgin and Child" by Fra Angelico, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The ghostly image creates a rather eerie feeling; it’s a stark contrast to the typical warmth of Fra Angelico. What can you tell me about this work based on its formal properties? Curator: It presents a fascinating study in artistic process through radiographic exploration. Note the distribution of densities, revealing the artist's underdrawing and layering of pigments. Where do you see the artist's hand most clearly evident in the composition? Editor: Perhaps in the faces, where there seems to be greater detail and density? I’m also struck by how the frame appears almost more substantial than the figures themselves in this view. Curator: Precisely. The frame’s ornate details speak to the painting's function as a devotional object, while the figures’ ethereal quality emphasizes the spiritual nature of the subject. Editor: So, even in this technical view, the formal elements guide our understanding. Curator: Yes, even an X-ray elucidates the artist's intention through material evidence and composition.