altarpiece

An altarpiece is an artwork placed on or behind the altar of a Christian church or chapel. It is typically a painting, sculpture, or a combination of imagery and sculptural elements, designed to be viewed from the nave during liturgy. Altarpieces may be standalone works or integrated into a larger architectural structure such as a retable.

Many altarpieces are polyptychs, consisting of multiple panels arranged across several sections. They often include a predella, the smaller narrative panels at the base, and may have hinged wings that open and close to reveal different compositions. The form can be highly decorative, with gilded backgrounds, carved frames, and painted or sculpted figures.

Historically, altarpieces developed in medieval Europe and evolved through the Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance, continuing into the Baroque and later periods. Techniques included wood panel painting with tempera or oil, and the addition of carved or gilded sculptural elements. The subjects typically depict biblical scenes, saints, or the Virgin and Child, and they often reflected the tastes of their patrons and the liturgical uses of the altar.

The function of an altarpiece is devotional and instructional: it focuses worship, communicates stories from scripture, and commemorates donors or institutions. It also served as a visual centerpiece for ceremonies and as a display of patronage and prestige for churches and confraternities.

Notable examples include the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald, the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck and Hubert van Eyck, Duccio’s Maestà for Siena Cathedral, and Hugo van der Goes’s Portinari Altarpiece. The term is distinct from the architectural retable behind the altar, of which the altarpiece may be a part.