X-radiograph(s) of "Building the Temple (copy by Brodeur)" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Building the Temple," a copy after Pesellino. The image reveals the hidden internal structure of the painting. Editor: Initially, I find this image quite unsettling. The fractured lines create a sense of fragility, perhaps hinting at underlying damage. Curator: Indeed. But consider how the composition uses this grid-like structure. The lines intersect and divide the pictorial space, creating new formal relationships, and challenging our perception of the original. Editor: It speaks to how artworks carry histories of use, damage, and repair—reflecting broader themes of cultural preservation and decay that surround artistic patrimony. Curator: Precisely. The materiality of this X-ray, rather than the painting itself, becomes the focus. It transcends being purely diagnostic. Editor: Ultimately, it prompts reflection on what constitutes the ‘authentic’ artwork, and the narratives we construct around its endurance.