Reredos

Areredos(/ˈrɪərˌdɒs,ˈrɪərɪ-,ˈrɛrɪ-/REER-dos,REER-ih-,RERR-ih-) is a largealtarpiece,a screen, or decoration placed behind thealtarin achurch.It often includesreligious images.

The termreredosmay also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular architecture, for example very grand carvedchimneypieces.^[1]It also refers to a simple, low stone wall placed behind ahearth.

Description

A reredos can be made of stone, wood, metal,ivory,or a combination of materials. The images may be painted, carved,gilded,composed ofmosaics,and/or embedded withnichesforstatues.Sometimes atapestryor another fabric such assilkorvelvetis used.

Derivation and history of the term

ReredosisderivedthroughMiddle Englishfrom the 14th-century Anglo-Normanareredos,which in turn is fromarere'behind' +dos'back', fromLatindorsum.(Despite its appearance, the first part of the word is not formed by doubling the prefix "re-", but by an archaic spelling of "rear".) In the 14th and 15th centuries the term referred generally to an open hearth of a fireplace or to a screen placed behind a table, then became nearlyobsoleteuntil it was revived in the 19th century.

Reredosvsretable

The termreredosis sometimes confused with the termretable.While areredosgenerally forms or covers the wall behind an altar,^[2]aretableis placed either on the altar or immediately behind and attached to the altar. "Many altars have both a reredos and a retable."^[3]But this distinction may not always be observed. The retable may have become part of the reredos when an altar was moved away from the wall. For altars that are against the wall, the retable often sits on top of the altar, at the back, particularly when there is no reredos (in which case adossalcurtain or something similar is used instead of a reredos). The retable may hold flowers and candlesticks.

InFrench(and sometimes inEnglishby confusing the terms), a reredos is called aretable;inSpanisharetablo,etc.

Gallery

New College, OxfordChapel reredos, UK
Altar of TheBasilica of Our Lady of the PillarinZaragoza
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción,Tarancón.
Holy Trinity Church, West Bromwich, war memorial for World War I.
The "Grand Retablo",Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Main altar "retablo" of theBasilica Minore del Sto. NiñoinCebu City,Philippines
Plainaltarpiecepainting
ModernLaliqueglass reredos,Saint Matthew's Church( "the Glass Church" ), Millbrook,Jersey.
Grace Church in New York Reredos,Grace Church (Manhattan).
Altarpiece and lateral reredos in the Church of Santa Rosa de Lima inMorelia,Mexico, built in the late 18th century.^[4]
Despenser reredosatNorwich Cathedral,UK.^[5]