Painting, relief, sculpture, screen, or decorated wall standing on or behind an altar in a Christian church. The images depict holy personages, saints, and biblical subjects. There are two types of altarpieces: the reredos, which rises from the floor behind the altar, and the retable, which stands on the altar itself or on a pedestal behind it. The diptych is an altarpiece consisting of two panels; a triptych, three panels; and a polyptych, four or more panels. Altarpieces vary in size; some are small and portable, some are huge and stationary, and some have movable wings that can be opened and closed. The practice of erecting sculptural altarpieces dates from the 11th century; altar paintings became common in the 14th century.

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An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych 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, both sides of the altar-piece can be covered with painting. The screen, retable or reredos are also commonly decorated.

Famous examples are

• the Byzantine Pala d'Oro in the Basilica di San Marco, Venice
• the Ghent Altarpiece (1432) by Hubert and Jan van Eyck
• the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald
• the Altar of Veit Stoss

External links

• ArtLex: altarpiece or altar-piece