polyptych

painting

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July 2, 2026

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A polyptych is an artwork composed of four or more panels, often hinged and folding together. This format is commonly seen in Christian art, particularly as altarpieces. While a diptych has two panels and a triptych has three, a polyptych extends this to four or more sections. Famous examples include the Ghent Altarpiece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, which features 12 panels, and Gentile da Fabriano's Quaratesi Polyptych, which depicts various episodes from the life of St. Nicholas of Bari. The term "polyptych" originates from the Greek word polyptychos, meaning "having many folds".123

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altarpiece
… has three panels, and a polyptych has four or more panels. A winged altarpiece is one equipped with movable wings that can be opened or closed over a fixed central part, thereby allowing various representations to be exposed to view. The term reredos is used for an ornamental screen or…
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… has three panels, and a polyptych has four or more panels. A winged altarpiece is one equipped with movable wings that can be opened or closed over a fixed central part, thereby allowing various representations to be exposed to view. The term reredos is used for an ornamental screen or…
Read More