Altartavlor

Altartavlor, eller altarpieces, are religious artworks placed behind or above the altar in Christian churches. They function as a visual focal point for liturgy and devotion, often illustrating biblical narratives or saints and shaping the visual program of the sanctuary. In many traditions they form a central element of church interiors and help convey doctrinal lessons to worshippers.

Altartavlor are commonly built as polyptychs, diptychs or triptychs, with several carved and painted panels that unfold around the central altar. They may include a retable, which is the architectural and painted screen behind the altar, and a predella at the base containing related scenes. The artworks can combine painting, sculpture, gilding and architectural framing, sometimes integrated with carved panels, metalwork or inlay. Materials range from wooden panels and canvas to gilded stucco or plaster, and the technique spans medieval panel painting, Renaissance, Baroque and later forms.

Historically, altarpieces emerged strongly in medieval Europe and evolved through the Renaissance and Baroque periods. They served both aesthetic and didactic purposes, displaying biblical stories, the Virgin Mary or saints for contemplative or instructive reflection. The Protestant Reformation brought changes to altarpiece programs in some regions, but altartavlor remained prominent in many Lutheran and Catholic churches, adapting to local taste and liturgical needs. In northern Europe, including Sweden, altarpieces often combined regional painting traditions with Dutch, German and Italian influences, resulting in diverse styles and functions within parish churches.

Today, altarpieces are studied as historic artifacts and preserved as important cultural heritage. They continue to be conserved, interpreted, and, in some cases, recreated or complemented by contemporary artists in active church spaces.