Correcting interferences
Because of their short wavelength and high penetration, X-rays also provide information on a painting's support. This is usually very helpful, but in the case of The Virgin and Child, the cradle applied to the back of the panel appears as a distracting grid on the X-radiograph. To improve the image, the spaces in the cradle were temporarily filled with Elvacite 2046, a resin with an X-ray opacity similar to that of the wooden cradle. The panel was X-radiographed again at a longer exposure time and a higher kilovoltage. The result is a much more informative X-radiograph.
The uncorrected image is on the left and the corrected image is on the right, above. After the cradle was filled with Elvacite 2046, the panel was documented again at a longer exposure time and a higher kilovoltage.
End of section.