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

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of the "Madonna and Child," attributed to Giovanni Bellini, residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Haunting, isn't it? Like peering through time, seeing what lies beneath the surface. A ghostly portrait emerges. Curator: Indeed. The X-ray unveils the underpainting, revealing Bellini's process and materials. It's a study in the layered construction of the image. Editor: I see the faint outline of a face, a precursor to the Madonna, perhaps? The emotional weight of maternal love, concealed yet present. Curator: The density variations indicate different pigment compositions, reflecting the economic realities of sourcing materials in Bellini's time. Editor: It prompts us to consider how cultural memory is embedded in these hidden layers, waiting to be revealed. Curator: A fascinating glimpse into artistic labor and materiality. Editor: Leaving me with a sense of mystery and the enduring power of symbolic imagery.