The x-ray was discovered around 1895 and put to use shortly afterwards in the hospital and on the battlefield. The x-ray allowed doctors to peer into the body and ‘see’ what was wrong, broken and causing an ailment. The x-ray was further developed for industrial applications to ‘see’ into steel plates and welded vessels. And, about the same time, art historians started to use the x-ray to ‘see’ under paintings. They were thrilled with the x-ray to show the drawings and preparatory sketches for the painting, to refute fakes and copies and to illustrate masterpieces that may have been covered over.

All of this happened over a hundred years ago, but it was what happened recently that I want to tell you about. A fellow dealer had told me about a guy he had heard of who had a portable x-ray machine. I thought this sounded totally legitimate and asked the dealer for this guys number. About a week later this guy showed up at my apartment with his portable x-ray machine - which, by his need for help to carry it up the stairs, didn’t look too portable.



He was wearing scrubs and told me he had to get the machine back to his office. Still thinking this was at least partially legitimate, I placed the painting on my kitchen table. Before I could ask him if I needed a lead apron like the kind the dentist puts on you before they leave the room to take x-rays of your teeth, he had started up the machine. Click, click.



He then handed me a CD and mumbled something about having to download a program in order to see the digital x-ray images as he motioned for me to grab what was now considered my half of the x-ray machine and help him carry it down the stairs and out to his car. When we got to his car, I handed over the cash and he drove off. Still thinking there may be a modicum of legitimacy, I slid the CD into my laptop and hoped for the best. The files were there and the application worked. The digital x-ray images revealed more questions than answers. At least for now. ;-) hkv