Reredos depicting the Immaculate Conception. Portuguese, 17th century. Santarém, Portugal
The term reredos may also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular architecture, for example very grand carved chimneypieces.[1] It also refers to a simple, low stone wall placed behind a hearth.
A reredos can be made of stone, wood, metal, ivory, or a combination of materials. The images may be painted, carved, gilded, composed of mosaics, and/or embedded with niches for statues. Sometimes a tapestry or another fabric such as silk or velvet is used.
Derivation and history of the term
Reredos is derived through Middle English from the 14th-century Anglo-Norman areredos, which in turn is fromarere 'behind' +dos 'back', from Latindorsum. (Despite its appearance, the first part of the word is not formed by doubling the prefix "re-", but by an archaic spelling of "rear".) In the 14th and 15th centuries the term referred generally to an open hearth of a fireplace or to a screen placed behind a table, then became nearly obsolete until it was revived in the 19th century.
Reredos vs Retable
The term reredos is sometimes confused with the term retable. While a reredos generally forms or covers the wall behind an altar,[2] a retable is placed either on the altar or immediately behind and attached to the altar. "Many altars have both a reredos and a retable."[3] But this distinction may not always be observed. The retable may have become part of the reredos when an altar was moved away from the wall. For altars that are against the wall, the retable often sits on top of the altar, at the back, particularly when there is no reredos (in which case a dossal curtain or something similar is used instead of a reredos). The retable may hold flowers and candlesticks.
In French (and sometimes in English by confusing the terms), a reredos is called a retable; in Catalan a retaule, in Spanish a retablo, etc.
^"Reredos", Baca, Murtha, and Visual Resources Association, Cataloging Cultural Objects: A Guide to Describing Cultural Works and Their Images, 2006, American Library Association, ISBN0838935648, 9780838935644
^Bradshaw, Paul F. (24 April 2013). New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship. Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. ISBN978-0-334-04932-6.
^"TEMPLO DE SANTA ROSA DE LIMA (TEMPLO DE LAS ROSAS)". michoacan.travel.
^Beckwith, Sarah (1996). Christ's Body: Identity, Culture and Society in Late Medieval Writings. London: Routledge. p. 22. ISBN978-0415144261. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Retables.
Look up reredos in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
reredos, reredos, ɪər, ɪər, reer, reer, rerr, large, altarpiece, screen, decoration, placed, behind, altar, church, often, includes, religious, images, depicting, immaculate, conception, portuguese, 17th, century, santarém, portugal, term, reredos, also, used,. A reredos ˈ r ɪer ˌ d ɒ s ˈ r ɪer ɪ ˈ r ɛ r ɪ REER dos REER ih RERR ih is a large altarpiece a screen or decoration placed behind the altar in a church It often includes religious images Reredos depicting the Immaculate Conception Portuguese 17th century Santarem Portugal The term reredos may also be used for similar structures if elaborate in secular architecture for example very grand carved chimneypieces 1 It also refers to a simple low stone wall placed behind a hearth Contents 1 Description 2 Derivation and history of the term 3 Reredos vs Retable 4 Examples from various churches 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditA reredos can be made of stone wood metal ivory or a combination of materials The images may be painted carved gilded composed of mosaics and or embedded with niches for statues Sometimes a tapestry or another fabric such as silk or velvet is used Derivation and history of the term EditReredos is derived through Middle English from the 14th century Anglo Norman areredos which in turn is from arere behind dos back from Latin dorsum Despite its appearance the first part of the word is not formed by doubling the prefix re but by an archaic spelling of rear In the 14th and 15th centuries the term referred generally to an open hearth of a fireplace or to a screen placed behind a table then became nearly obsolete until it was revived in the 19th century Reredos vs Retable EditThe term reredos is sometimes confused with the term retable While a reredos generally forms or covers the wall behind an altar 2 a retable is placed either on the altar or immediately behind and attached to the altar Many altars have both a reredos and a retable 3 But this distinction may not always be observed The retable may have become part of the reredos when an altar was moved away from the wall For altars that are against the wall the retable often sits on top of the altar at the back particularly when there is no reredos in which case a dossal curtain or something similar is used instead of a reredos The retable may hold flowers and candlesticks In French and sometimes in English by confusing the terms a reredos is called a retable in Catalan a retaule in Spanish a retablo etc Examples from various churches Edit New College Oxford Chapel reredos UK Altar of The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion Tarancon Holy Trinity Church West Bromwich war memorial for World War I The Grand Retablo Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano Cathedral Basilica of St Francis Santa Fe New Mexico Main altar retablo of the Basilica Minore del Sto Nino in Cebu City Philippines Plain altarpiece painting Modern Lalique glass reredos Saint Matthew s Church the Glass Church Millbrook Jersey Grace Church in New York Reredos Grace Church Manhattan Altarpiece and lateral reredos in the Church of Santa Rosa de Lima in Morelia Mexico built in the late 18th century 4 Despenser reredos Norwich Cathedral England 5 See also EditAltarpiece Iconostasis RetabloReferences Edit Reredos Baca Murtha and Visual Resources Association Cataloging Cultural Objects A Guide to Describing Cultural Works and Their Images 2006 American Library Association ISBN 0838935648 9780838935644 Bradshaw Paul F 24 April 2013 New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd ISBN 978 0 334 04932 6 Art amp Architecture Thesaurus Online Retable TEMPLO DE SANTA ROSA DE LIMA TEMPLO DE LAS ROSAS michoacan travel Beckwith Sarah 1996 Christ s Body Identity Culture and Society in Late Medieval Writings London Routledge p 22 ISBN 978 0415144261 Retrieved 17 December 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Retables Look up reredos in Wiktionary the free dictionary Reredos in the Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reredos amp oldid 1119170847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
