Altarpieces

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A collection of painted or sculpted works situated behind an altar, primarily depicting sacred themes to enhance ceremonial significance
2. Artworks composed of several interconnected panels featuring religious imagery, designed to beautify spaces of worship
3. Multi-paneled or single-piece artistic displays positioned at the back of a church altar that illustrate religious stories or figures to inspire devotion

Etymology: "Altarpieces" is the plural of "altarpiece," a painted or carved panel set behind or above an altar. The singular is a compound of "altar" and "piece," so the word needs little decoding: it names the work that stands on the altar. The plural simply counts several such panels, as when a church or cathedral houses a whole series of them. Because the word is a plain combination of two ordinary English elements, its history is transparent. "Altar" came into English from Latin "altare," the high place for sacrifice, and "piece" is an everyday word for a separate part or work of art. Put together, they describe an object whose function is defined by its location: a picture or carving made for the altar itself.

Synonyms: retables, screens, tabernacles, sacrificial tables, decorative panels