polyptych
Multi-section altar painting
A polyptych is a painting or relief carving made of multiple panels, typically hinged together.
The term applies especially to altarpieces with four or more sections—a diptych has two panels, a triptych three, and anything beyond is a polyptych.
The church's polyptych depicted scenes from the life of Christ across five gilded panels.
Religious art behind altar
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- chancelAltar-adjacent clergy space
- devotionalRelating to worship
- liturgicalOf public worship rites
sacred · reliquary · cathedral · basilica · chapel · retable · devotion · veneration
Distinct flat section
- hingedConnected by pivot joint
- foldingBending something over itself
- wingedHaving flight appendages
- modularMade of separable units
composite · assemblage · accordion-fold · interconnected · expandable · collapsible · portable · freestanding
Pigment on canvas
- canvasHeavy woven cloth
- masterpieceSupreme artistic achievement
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- frescoWet plaster painting technique
tempera · oil · gilded · tableau · gallery · exhibition · museum · Renaissance
Ordered succession of elements
- progressionSequential forward movement
- seriesOrdered set of related items
- chronologyTemporal ordering of events
- successionFollowing in order
continuous · storytelling · episodic · scenes · juxtaposed · arrangement · cycle · sequential
altarpiece
Religious art behind altar
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- chancelAltar-adjacent clergy space
- devotionalRelating to worship
liturgical · sacred · reliquary · cathedral · basilica · chapel · retable · devotion · veneration · saint
panel
Distinct flat section
modular · composite · assemblage · accordion-fold · interconnected · expandable · collapsible · portable · freestanding
painting
Pigment on canvas
- canvasHeavy woven cloth
- masterpieceSupreme artistic achievement
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
fresco · tempera · oil · gilded · tableau · gallery · exhibition · museum · Renaissance · medieval
sequence
Ordered succession of elements
- progressionSequential forward movement
- seriesOrdered set of related items
- chronologyTemporal ordering of events
succession · continuous · storytelling · episodic · scenes · juxtaposed · arrangement · cycle · sequential · tableaux