Guide to altarpieces

Get to know altarpieces at the National Gallery

Explore the elements of an altarpiece and discover the history behind these devotional objects

Altarpieces in context

Discover the history behind the altarpieces in the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery

Document, suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

The anatomy of an altarpiece: the polyptych

Uncover the different elements of an Italian Renaissance altarpiece. Explore the diagram to find out more about this multi-panelled polyptych

Image Above: Detail from Carlo Crivelli, The Demidoff Altarpiece, 1476