jan 21, 1400 - Pala Altarpieces

Description:

Italian altarpieces were complex structures painted on separate panels joined together with elaborate frames (polyptychs) until the beginning of the fifteenth century, when they began to take the form of unified scenes painted on a single panel, or pala.

Netherlandish painted altarpieces often consisted of a central panel with hinged outer wings which were usually kept folded inwards to conceal the central image, but could be opened up for the mass. In southern Europe curtains were often used to hide altarpieces until the celebration of the mass, when they were revealed to the eyes of viewers.

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