X-radiograph(s) of "Pope Clement IX" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Pope Clement IX," after Carlo Maratti. Seeing it this way, it’s like looking at the bones of a painting. What does this x-ray tell us about the artwork's history and how it was made? Curator: It reveals the painting's hidden structure, the artist's process. Consider this: how does understanding the physical construction of the artwork change our perception of its historical and cultural value? Editor: That’s fascinating! So, seeing this hidden structure gives us a new perspective on the original artwork? Curator: Precisely! It encourages us to think about the layers of meaning and the choices made in its creation and preservation. Editor: I never thought about a painting having its own sort of biography.