Polyptych

A polyptych (from the Greek polu- "many" + ptychē "fold") generally refers to a painting (usually panel painting) which is divided into four or more sections, or panels. (The term diptych is used to describe a two-part painting and the term triptych describes a three-part painting.)

Related Topics:
Greek - Painting - Panel painting - Diptych - Triptych

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Polyptychs were most common with Renaissance painters, the majority of polyptychs were designed to be altarpieces in churches and cathedrals.

Related Topics:
Renaissance - Altarpiece - Church - Cathedral

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Examples of polyptychs include:

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• The Ghent Altarpiece is probably the most famous Polyptych
• Polyptych of the Misericordia (1445-1462) by Piero della Francesca
• The Last Judgment Polyptych (c. 1450) by Rogier van der Weyden
• Saint Augustine Polyptych (1470) by Perugino
• St. Dominic Polyptych (1506-08) by Lorenzo Lotto

In comic books and comic strips a polyptych is a strip, or even an entire comic page, in which the background forms a continuous image even though it may be divided into separate panels; a good example is The Perishers which often uses polyptychs divided into 3 panels.

Related Topics:
Comic books - Comic strips - The Perishers

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