Walking among Ruins: Castilian Tabernacle-altarpieces of the Late Middle Ages

Abstract

The early development of the altarpiece gave rise to different solutions. One of them, focusing on the cult images that were usually on display on the altars, consisted in housing these images in a baldachin with movable wings that made possible either concealing them or showing them in accordance with the liturgical requirements. These devices are the so-called ‘tabernacle-altarpieces’, widespread throughout the Medieval West. This article explores the development of these altarpieces in Castile paying attention to their origins, evolution and specific features with regard to other territories.