Altarpiece

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Altarpiece

An altarpiece is a picture or relief

Relief

A relief is a sculptured artwork where a modelled form is raised, or in sunken-relief lowered, from a flatish background plane without being disconnected from it....
representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar

Altar

An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religion, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place....
of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting

Panel painting

A panel painting is a painting on a panel made of wood, either a single piece, or a number of pieces joined together. Until canvas became the more popular support medium in the 16th century, it was the normal form of support for a painting not on a wall or on vellum, which was used for miniature in illuminated manuscripts and also for pa...
. It is then called a diptych

Diptych

A diptych is any object with two flat plates attached at a hinge. Devices of this form were quite popular in the ancient world, types existing for recording notes and for measuring time and direction....
, triptych

Triptych

A triptych is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three Wood carving panels which are hinged together and folded. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works; the diptych has two panels....
or polyptych

Polyptych

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Encyclopedia

An altarpiece is a picture or relief

Relief

Altar

Panel painting

Diptych

Triptych

Polyptych

A polyptych generally refers to a painting which is divided into four or more sections, or panels. Polyptych may also be used to refer collectively to all multi-panel paintings....
for two, three, and multiple panels respectively. Groups of statuary can also be placed on the altar. Sometimes the altarpiece is set on the altar itself.

If the altar stands free in the choir

Choir

A choir, chorale, or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral Music, in turn, is the music written specifically for a choir to perform....
, both sides of the altar-piece can be covered with painting. The screen

Rood screen

The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval parish church architecture. It is typically an ornate screen, constructed of wood, stone or wrought iron....
, retable

Retable

A retable is a term of Christian art and church architecture, applied in modern English usage to an altar-ledge or shelf, raised slightly above the back of the altar or Mass #The Communion rite table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlestick and other ornaments....
or reredos

Reredos

There are two common meanings of the word reredos. In general architecture, the word can mean the back of an open hearth of a fireplace or a screen placed behind a table....
are also commonly decorated.

Famous examples are

the Byzantine
Byzantine art

Byzantine art is the term commonly used to describe the artistic products of the Byzantine Empire from about the 4th century until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453....
Pala d'Oro
Pala d'Oro

Pala d?Oro is the high altar retable of the Basilica di San Marco in Venice. It is universally recognized as one of the most refined and accomplished works of Byzantine art, with both front and rear sides decorated....
in the Basilica di San Marco, Venice
Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy, the capital city of the Italian regions Veneto, a population of 271,251 . Together with Padua, Italy, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area ....
the Ghent Altarpiece
Ghent Altarpiece

The Ghent Altarpiece or Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is a very large and complex Early Netherlandish painting polyptych panel painting which was once in the Joost Vijdt chapel at Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium, but was later moved for security reasons to the chapel of the cathedral....
(1432) by Hubert
Hubert van Eyck

Hubert van Eyck was a Flemings Painting and older brother of Jan van Eyck.The date of his birth and the records of his progress are lost amidst the ruins of the earlier civilization of the valley of the Meuse River....
and Jan van Eyck
Jan van Eyck

Jan van Eyck or Johannes de Eyck was an Early Netherlandish painting active in Bruges and considered one of the best Northern European painters of the 15th century....
the Isenheim Altarpiece
Isenheim Altarpiece

The Isenheim Altarpiece is an altarpiece painted by the German artist Matthias Gr?newald between 1512 and 1516. It is on display at the Unterlinden Museum at Colmar, Alsace, now in France....
by Matthias Grünewald
Matthias Grünewald

Matthias Gr?newald or "Mathis" , "Gothart" or "Neithardt" , , was an important German Renaissance painter of religious works, who ignored Renaissance classicism to continue the expressive and intense style of late medieval Central European art into the 16th century....
the Altar of Veit Stoss
Altar of Veit Stoss

The altarpiece of Veit Stoss , also St. Mary's altar , is the largest Gothic architecture altarpiece in the World. It is located behind the main altar of St....

Altarpiece

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