Predella

Predella

A predella is the platform or step on which an altar stands ("predalla" It. = kneeling stool). In painting, predella refers to the paintings or sculptures running along the frame at the bottom of an altarpiece. In later medieval and Renaissance altarpieces, where the main panel consisted of a scene with large static figures, it was normal to include a predella below with a number of small-scale narrative paintings depicting incidents from the life of the dedicatee, whether Christ, the Virgin Mary or a saint. Typically there would be three to five small scenes, in a horizontal format.

They are significant in art history, as the artist had more freedom from iconographic conventions than in the main panel; they could only be seen from close up. As the main panels themselves became more dramatic, during Mannerism, predellas were no longer painted, and they are rare by the middle of the 16th century. Predella scenes are now often separated from the rest of the altarpiece in museums.

Examples of predellas include:
* Duccio - the predella of his "Maestà" - one of the earliest predellas.
* Lorenzo Monaco - " [http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG4062 Incidents in the Life of Saint Benedict] " (c1407-9)
* Luca Signorelli - " [http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG1776 The Adoration of the Shepherds] " (1510-1515)


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  • Predella — Pre*del la, n. [It.] The step, or raised secondary part, of an altar; a superaltar; hence, in Italian painting, a band or frieze of several pictures running along the front of a superaltar, or forming a border or frame at the foot of an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Predella — (ital.), der oberste Stufenabsatz vor dem Altar (auch suppedaneum); dann ein Aufsatz auf dem Altar hinter der Altarplatte (mensa), der zum Stellen der Leuchter, Reliquiarien etc. dient und an seiner Vorderseite gewöhnlich mit Bildwerken in… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Predella — (ital.), Stufentritt auf der hintern Seite des Altars; Sockelgemälde eines Altaraufsatzes (s. Flügelaltar nebst Abb. 606) …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • predella — /pre dɛl:a/ s.f. [dal longob. predel, pretel assicella ]. 1. (arred.) [tavola di legno usata come sostegno di un mobile, spec. di una cattedra nelle aule scolastiche] ▶◀ pedana, piattaforma. 2. (trasp.) [piano d appoggio per salire su mezzi di… …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • Predella — Die Beweinung – Predella der ersten und zweiten Schauseite des Isenheimer Altars …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Predella —    Apredella is the base on which an altarpiece sits. It is usually decorated with sculpture relief or painting and the subject chosen normally refers to that of the main scenes of the altarpiece. So, for example, the predella in Gentile da… …   Dictionary of Renaissance art

  • Predella — Pre|dẹl|la 〈f.; , s od. dẹl|len〉 meist verzierter Untersatz, Sockel des Flügelaltars [ital. „Sockel“; vermutl. <ahd. bret „Brett“] * * * Pre|dẹl|la, die; , s u. …ellen, Pre|dẹl|le, die; , n [(frz. prédelle <) ital. predella, wohl aus… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • predella — noun Etymology: Italian, footrest, altar step, predella, from Langobardic (Germanic language of the Lombards) *predel , *pretel , lath, board; akin to Old High German bret board, bort plank, ship s side more at board Date: 1853 the base of an… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • predella — {{hw}}{{predella}}{{/hw}}s. f. 1 Largo gradino di legno che fa da base a un mobile: la predella della cattedra | Gradino ampio dell altare. 2 Parte inferiore del polittico e della pala d altare, divisa in più parti …   Enciclopedia di italiano

  • Predella — Pre|del|la die; , Plur. s u. ...llen, auch Pre|d’el|le die; , n unter Einfluss von fr. prédelle aus gleichbed. it. predella, dies wohl aus dem Germ. (vgl. dt. Brett)>: 1. oberste Altarstufe. 2. Staffel eines [spätgot.] Altars mit gemaltem od.… …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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