altarpiece

American  

[awl-ter-pees] / ˈɔl tərˌpis /

noun

1. a painted or carved screen behind or above the altar or communion table in Christian churches; reredos.

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altarpiece British  

/ ˈɔːltəˌpiːs /

noun

1. a work of art set above and behind an altar; a reredos

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Etymology

Origin of altarpiece

First recorded in 1635–45; altar + piece

Example Sentences

This altarpiece marks the Italian artist coming into his own at the end of the Renaissance, its vision of Christ after his crucifixion rendered in an expressive, enigmatic style.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

St Johns' Almshouse had the piece valued during renovation work and the charity decided to sell the altarpiece to fund new accommodation for people in need.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

“I’m going to have these symbolic marigolds all the way around the building on the surface of the wall, like you would see in an altarpiece for the Day of the Dead,” Vargas said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2024

The wings, Israels said, would have been scraped off when the altarpiece was disassembled and the wing fragments would no longer have made sense.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 19, 2024

Leonardo runs out of money before he even begins the altarpiece.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day