X-radiograph(s) of "Finding of Vulcan (formerly Hylas and Nymphs)" 

Curator: Here we see an X-radiograph of Piero di Cosimo's "Finding of Vulcan," now housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking how this imaging process flattens the figures, giving the piece a ghostly, almost ethereal quality, despite the lack of color. Curator: Absolutely. The X-ray reveals so much about the artist's process, the underdrawings and hidden layers that speak to the painting's evolution and the social construction of Renaissance ideals. It prompts us to consider the gendered narratives being portrayed. Editor: Indeed, we can appreciate the artist’s meticulous brushwork even in this stark presentation, the subtle gradations that define form and volume, especially within the drapery. Curator: Examining its composition reveals how societal norms of beauty are embedded within the very structure of the piece, reflecting power dynamics of the time. Editor: Seeing this familiar image in this state refocuses how we interpret the formal elements and offers a new way to understand the artist's hand.