Altarpiece
Analtarpieceis a work of art that has been made to go above thealtarin aChristianchurch.An altarpiece can be a painting, or it can be carved from wood or stone. Some altarpieces have bothpaintingsandsculptures.
Subject matter
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What do altarpieces show?
There are three most common subjects,The Virgin Mary and Christ Child,Jesus crucifiedandChrist in Glory.These are three very important parts of Christian belief.
Altars ofThe Virgin Mary and Christ Childwere made to remind Christians thatGodcame to Earth asJesus,in the form of an ordinary helpless little baby, to grow up among people. These altarpieces are to remind Christians of theChristmasstory.
Altarpieces ofJesus on the crosswere made to remind Christians that Jesus, who was pure and did not sin, died a horrible death like a robber and murderer so that Christians could be forgiven. These altarpieces are to remind Christians of theEasterstory.
Altarpieces that showJesus sitting on a throne in Heavenwere made to remind Christians that they need to put their lives right and turn to God because one day they will see him on histhrone.These altarpieces are to remind Christians that they never know when their life might end and they should live every day in a way that pleases God.
Saints and stories
[change|change source]Many altarpieces, as well as having one of the three main scenes, may have lots of other figures or lots of other small scenes.
The other figures are usuallysaints.They might be shown standing around a throne where the Virgin Mary sits with Baby Jesus on her knee. Or they might be painted on separate pieces that are joined to the middle part of the altarpiece. These saints do not have to be people who were alive at the same time as Mary. They are more often thepatron saintof the church or the favourites saints of the person who paid for the altarpiece.
Smallerrectangularparts of the altarpiece often have stories painted in them. They may be stories from theBibletelling the life of Jesus, or they might tell the life of a saint.
Size
[change|change source]How big are altarpieces?
An altarpiece can be as small as a tiny painting put on the wall above a table in someone's home. Or it can be so big that it fills the wall of a hugecathedral.The word is usually used for artworks which are quite big. A small painting may be called aHoly Pictureor anIcon.
Large altarpieces
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- The Isenheim Altarpiecein Colmar,Francewas painted by aGermanartist, Matthias Grunewald. At the centre is a terrifying and horribly real scene of Jesus on the Cross. Other scenes show the joy of Jesus' birth and the glory of him rising from thegrave.
- The Ghent Altarpiecein Ghent Cathedral, Belgium, is a wonderful paintedpolytych.This means it is in lots of pieces which are hinged and can be closed. It showsChrist in Gloryand has many beautiful figures which includeAdam and Eve.It was painted byJan and Hubert van Eyck.
- The Great ScreenofWinchesterCathedral is a huge carved altarpiece made to replace an ancient one that was ruined in the 1600s. It has Christ on the Cross at the centre, surrounded by rows of carved saints. There is another altarpiece like this inSouthwarkCathedral,London.
- The Maestapainted byDucciowhich is no longer inSienaCathedral inItalybut is now in the cathedral's museum. This altarpiece has theVirgin and Childat the centre, surrounded by rows of saints. On the back were many small pictures telling the story of Jesus, but they have all been taken off and are shown separately.
- The TransparenteinToledoCathedral inSpainis an amazing sight. It is a huge altarpiece caved of whitemarblewith gold decoration. In the roof above it, there is a hidden window which lets bright light shine in to light it up.