predella

Predella is a term in art history for the lowest section of an altarpiece or polyptych. The predella sits beneath the principal narrative panels and often forms a secondary narrative sequence. It may consist of a row of small painted panels, or a sculpted or relief ensemble, sometimes integrated into the base or pedestal of the work. The predella's scenes typically complement the main program—biblical episodes from the life of Christ, the Virgin, or saints associated with the altarpiece—and may enlarge the viewer's understanding of the central subject. In many cases, donor portraits or local patrons appear within the predella.

In medieval and early Renaissance altarpieces, predellas were common in Italy and the Low Countries; they are especially associated with panel paintings from the 13th to 16th centuries. The subject matter ranges from Passion sequences to miracles and saints' lives, sometimes arranged chronologically to create a narrative continuation of the upper panels. Materials and styles vary: painted predellas on wood using tempera or oil, or sculpted predellas in relief or full sculpture, occasionally adorned with gilding or marble elements.

The practice diminished as altarpieces shifted to larger integrated sculptural ensembles and as reform movements altered religious imagery. Surviving predellas are valuable for art-historical study, offering context for the main panels and insight into workshop practices, patronage, and devotional reading. The term predella derives from Italian predella, meaning "little shelf" or "base," reflecting its position at the bottom of the altarpiece.