X-radiograph(s) of "Henry Clay" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of John Neagle's portrait of Henry Clay, here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating to see beneath the surface. What can this view tell us about the artwork itself? Curator: Observe the stark contrast, the layering of forms revealed by the penetrating X-rays. Notice how the radiographic image renders visible the artist's process: pentimenti, alterations in composition, the very armature of the support. How does this disruption of the surface inform your reading? Editor: It makes me think about the hidden effort and revisions behind the finished portrait. It's like seeing the artist's thought process. Curator: Precisely. The X-ray exposes the structural and material components. It deconstructs the illusion of the final image, reminding us of its constructed nature. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It's like the artwork is revealing its secrets. Curator: Indeed. We gain insight into both the creation and the physical reality of the artwork.