An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. Robert Campin (c 1375 &ndash 26 April 1444) now usually identified with the artist known as the Master of Flémalle, is usually considered the first A relief is a Sculptured Artwork where a modeled form is raised (or alternatively lowered from a flattened background without being disconnected from it An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as 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 It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two, three, and multiple panels respectively. A diptych (pronounced "dip-tick" dip'tik (or US: 'dɪp A triptych (pronounced "trip-tick" trip'tik (or US: 'tɹʷɪp A polyptych (from the Greek polu- "many" + ptychē "fold" generally refers to a Painting (usually Panel painting 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. For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers The screen, retable or reredos are also commonly decorated. The rood screen (also choir screen or chancel screen) is a common feature in late Medieval parish Church architecture. A retable is a term of ecclesiastical art and ecclesiastical architecture, applied in modern English usage to an Altar -ledge or shelf raised slightly 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
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 Altar of Veit Stoss
External links
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 Pala d’Oro (literally "Golden Pall" is a high Altar Retable of the Basilica di San Marco in Venice. Saint Mark's Basilica ( Italian: Basilica di San Marco a Venezia) the Cathedral of Venice, is the most famous of Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the The Ghent Altarpiece or Adoration of the Mystic Lamb ( Dutch: Het Lam Gods or The Lamb of God; completed 1432 Hubert van Eyck (also Huybrecht van Eyck) (c 1366&ndash1426 was a Flemish painter and older brother of Jan van Eyck. Jan van Eyck or Johannes de Eyck (jɑn vɑn ɛik (before c 1395 &ndash before July 9, 1441) was an Early Netherlandish painter active The altarpiece of Veit Stoss (Ołtarz Wita Stwosza Krakauer Hochaltar also StDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic