X-radiograph(s) of "Resurection, Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, Ascension (Triptych)" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of a triptych—specifically, "Resurrection, Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, Ascension"—by the artist Hans Memling. Editor: It's fascinating how the X-ray reveals the skeletal structure of the painting. It feels almost like looking at a ghost. Curator: Indeed. What we're seeing is the underlying material support, the wood panel, and the density of the pigments used. X-radiography is an important tool in art conservation. Editor: Seeing the ghost-like figures rising, the ascension…it evokes a sense of spiritual yearning, a kind of ethereal longing for transcendence. Curator: Perhaps, but also it shows how the artist built up layers. The material reality informs how it was constructed, the labor, and the process that give it its physical form. Editor: But the symbolism is so potent! Resurrection, martyrdom, ascension—powerful Christian narratives condensed into a single work. Curator: And revealed by a process, using technology, that Memling couldn't have conceived of. It’s a fascinating collision of craft and industrial technique. Editor: I find the historical weight of those images almost overwhelming. They resonate through centuries of belief. Curator: It's remarkable to consider both the craft involved and the scientific analysis that informs our understanding of it. Editor: Yes, seeing both the bones and the spirit, as it were, offers a richer appreciation.