X-radiograph(s) of "Purification of the Virgin" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Purification of the Virgin" by Benozzo Gozzoli. The ghostly image reveals the artist's process, almost like a hidden map. What can we learn about artistic creation from this unusual perspective? Curator: Consider this X-ray as a document of labor. We see the support structure, likely wood, dictating the composition in segmented views. It forces us to question how Gozzoli constructed this piece, what materials were prioritized, and how the support influenced the final image. Editor: That’s fascinating. So, it’s not just about the finished painting, but the entire process of making? Curator: Precisely! This imaging technology exposes the material reality and labor underpinning the "Purification," disrupting conventional notions of artistic genius and inviting us to consider the socioeconomic dimensions embedded in artistic production.