libterm.com A retable is an ornamental structure placed behind an altar in churches, often richly decorated with paintings, sculptures, or intricate carvings that depict sacred themes. This focal point enhances the spiritual atmosphere and serves as a visual storytelling medium guiding worshippers during religious ceremonies. Discover how retables influence church architecture and their significance in your spiritual experience by reading the full article.
Table of Comparison
| Feature | Retable | Reredos |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A structure or panel placed on or immediately behind the altar | A large ornamental screen or decoration located behind the altar, often extending upward |
| Location | Directly atop the altar or attached to it | Wall or structure rising behind the altar, sometimes reaching to the ceiling |
| Material | Wood, stone, or metal, often decorated with paintings or carvings | Stone, wood, or marble, commonly featuring sculptures, reliefs, or mosaics |
| Historical Use | Common in medieval and renaissance churches, focused on altar enhancement | Prominent in Gothic and Baroque periods, serving as grand decorative backdrops |
| Function | Emphasizes the altar area; often supports religious artwork or relics | Provides visual focus and religious storytelling through elaborate designs |
| Size | Relatively smaller, altar-sized element | Larger, extending vertically and horizontally behind the altar |
Introduction to Retable and Reredos
Retables and reredos are architectural elements placed behind altars in churches, serving as decorative backdrops that enhance the sacred space. A retable is a smaller altar piece, often a panel or shelf directly attached to or resting on the altar, featuring paintings, sculptures, or carvings. In contrast, a reredos is a larger, more elaborate structure that rises behind the altar, typically extending upwards with intricate designs, statues, and religious iconography.
Definition of Retable
A retable is an ornamental panel or shelf situated directly behind an altar, often decorated with paintings, sculptures, or carvings to enhance the visual focus of the altar area. It differs from a reredos, which is a larger, more elaborate structure extending vertically, often reaching the ceiling and encompassing multiple tiers of artwork. Retables serve as integral liturgical furnishings that frame the altar while providing a platform for religious iconography.
Definition of Reredos
A reredos is an ornamental screen or partition wall placed behind an altar in a church, often made of wood, stone, or metal and elaborately decorated with religious iconography. It serves to visually enhance the sanctuary and emphasize the altar's significance during worship. Unlike a retable, which is a shelf or structure directly on or behind the altar, the reredos typically extends higher and covers a larger area on the wall.
Historical Origins and Evolution
Retables and reredoses both originated in medieval church architecture to embellish altars, with retables initially serving as a shelf or structure directly behind the altar to display religious objects or paintings. Reredoses evolved later as larger, often more elaborate screens or panels that extended upward behind the altar, frequently incorporating intricate carvings, statues, or reliefs to depict biblical scenes. Over time, retables became more focused on painted panels or altarpieces, while reredoses expanded into substantial architectural features, reflecting changes in liturgical art and church design from the Gothic through Baroque periods.
Key Architectural Differences
Retables are typically smaller architectural structures positioned directly atop or behind the altar, often featuring shelves or niches for placing statues and decorations, emphasizing vertical design and close integration with the altar table itself. Reredos, in contrast, are larger, more elaborate wall-mounted screens or panels extending upward from the altar's back, frequently adorned with intricate carvings, paintings, or reliefs that cover substantial wall space. The key architectural difference lies in scale and placement: retables function as altar furnishings, while reredos serve as prominent, often monumental backdrop elements anchoring the altar within the church interior.
Artistic and Decorative Elements
Retables and reredos both serve as ornamental features behind altars, with retables often crafted as smaller, freestanding panels adorned with intricate carvings, gilding, and painted scenes. Reredos typically present larger, more elaborate structures integrated into the church architecture, featuring sculptural reliefs, statues, and extensive use of precious materials like gold leaf and marble. The artistic emphasis in retables lies in detailed, pictorial storytelling, while reredos prioritize grandeur and three-dimensional depth to enhance the visual impact of the altar space.
Materials Used in Retable and Reredos
Retables are often crafted from wood, stone, or metal, featuring intricate carvings, painted panels, or gilded details to enhance their decorative appeal. Reredoses, typically larger and more elaborate, utilize materials such as marble, alabaster, and bronze, incorporating sculptural elements and architectural motifs for grandeur. Both structures may include elements like gold leaf, pigments, and glass inlays, but reredoses commonly emphasize durable, monumental materials suited for expansive church backdrops.
Geographic Variations
Retables and reredoses exhibit distinct geographic variations, with retables commonly found in Northern European churches, especially in France and Germany, where they serve as decorative altar backdrops. Reredoses are more prevalent in Southern Europe, notably in Italy and Spain, featuring elaborate architectural elements and often integrating sculptural panels. These regional differences reflect diverse artistic traditions and religious practices influencing the design and function of altar screens across Europe.
Symbolic and Liturgical Significance
Retables and reredos both serve as prominent altar backdrops, with retables often symbolizing the foundation of faith through depictions of saints or biblical scenes directly behind the altar table. The reredos, typically larger and more ornate, functions as a visual representation of divine presence and liturgical hierarchy, emphasizing the sacred space of the altar through intricate carvings and iconography. Both elements enhance devotional focus and ritual significance by embodying theological themes central to worship practices.
Modern Interpretations and Preservation
Modern interpretations of retables and reredos emphasize their artistic and cultural significance within contemporary religious spaces, blending traditional iconography with innovative materials and techniques. Preservation efforts prioritize stabilizing original structures while integrating advanced conservation technologies to maintain aesthetic integrity and historical authenticity. Museums and churches collaborate to ensure these altarpieces remain accessible for future generations through digital documentation and adaptive reuse strategies.
Retable Infographic
