Polyptych. A polyptych is a painting which is divided into sections, or panels.
Specifically, a diptych is a two-part work of art; a triptych is a three-part work; a tetraptych or quadriptych has four parts, whereas a polyptych describes any work of art formed of more than one constitutive part. Historically, polyptychs typically displayed one central or main panel that was usually the largest of the attachments; the other panels are called side panels, or wings.
Sometimes, as evident in the Ghent and Isenheim works, the hinged panels can be varied in arrangement to show different views or openings in the piece. The upper panels often depict static scenes, while the lower register, the predella, often depict small narrative scenes.
Polyptychs were most commonly created by early Renaissance painters, the majority of whom designed their works to be altarpieces in churches and cathedrals. The polyptych form of art was also quite popular among ukiyo-e printmakers of Edo period Japan.
Some medieval manuscripts are polyptychs, particularly Carolingian works, in which the columns on the page are framed with borders that resemble polyptych paintings. Whilst the polyptych originated as a form of sacred art, as a term to describe art in general, it can be seen to encompass any work of art constituted by multiple pieces of art such as sculpture, photography, or video and text-based art forms. In Eur
Specifically, a diptych is a two-part work of art; a triptych is a three-part work; a tetraptych or quadriptych has four parts, whereas a polyptych describes any work of art formed of more than one constitutive part. Historically, polyptychs typically displayed one central or main panel that was usually the largest of the attachments; the other panels are called side panels, or wings.
Sometimes, as evident in the Ghent and Isenheim works, the hinged panels can be varied in arrangement to show different views or openings in the piece. The upper panels often depict static scenes, while the lower register, the predella, often depict small narrative scenes.
Polyptychs were most commonly created by early Renaissance painters, the majority of whom designed their works to be altarpieces in churches and cathedrals. The polyptych form of art was also quite popular among ukiyo-e printmakers of Edo period Japan.
Some medieval manuscripts are polyptychs, particularly Carolingian works, in which the columns on the page are framed with borders that resemble polyptych paintings. Whilst the polyptych originated as a form of sacred art, as a term to describe art in general, it can be seen to encompass any work of art constituted by multiple pieces of art such as sculpture, photography, or video and text-based art forms. In Eur
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