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

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child," attributed to the School of Raphael. It's held in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought is how ghostly it appears. The Madonna and Child are present, but as spectral figures, veiled behind this grid. Curator: The grid, a fascinating consequence of the X-ray process, adds a layer of abstraction. We see beyond the surface, peering into the artwork’s structure. Editor: It's a reminder that what we see is never the whole story. The hidden layers, the artist's process…it’s all part of the work’s identity, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely. Looking at the texture, it almost feels like a hidden message— the bones beneath the skin of art history. Editor: In a way, this radiographic peek has revealed a new perspective on the iconic "Madonna and Child", and it has left me contemplating on what is "real" in art. Curator: It highlights the materiality of the work, reminding us that even the most ethereal images are constructed from earthly materials.