What does reredos mean?
A reredos is a decorated screen or architectural structure positioned behind a Christian altar. It can form part of an altarpiece and may include painted panels, sculpture, relief work, or images of saints and biblical scenes. The word is especially associated with the richly ornamented furnishings of medieval and Renaissance churches, where a reredos could make the altar a dramatic visual focus. Today it remains largely a specialist architectural and ecclesiastical term, but it can also describe a restored or fragmentary altar screen in a museum or historic building. Although the term is sometimes used interchangeably with retable, it generally emphasizes the screen-like framework behind the altar rather than the altar structure or the images alone.
nounA decorated screen or structure standing behind a Christian altar. It may bear religious images, carvings, or other ornamentation and form part of an altarpiece.
- A decorated screen or structure behind a Christian altar, often carved, painted, or fitted with religious imagery.
"The medieval reredos behind the altar was carved with scenes from the life of Christ."
"The church's oak reredos contains panels depicting the Passion of Christ."
"Restoration specialists uncovered fragments of an original painted reredos beneath the later plasterwork."
The standard plural adds -es.
"The museum's collection includes several painted reredoses from dismantled churches."
A reredos is the hidden stage set of history: a decorated backdrop that turns an altar into a scene from scripture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reredos come from?
The word entered English through Old French from a medieval Latin form associated with retro, meaning “back,” and a term for a board or panel. Its development reflects the Old French tendency to combine elements into reredos, with the “r-” element reflecting the Latin word for “back.” The related English word retable comes through French from Latin retrotabulum, meaning a rear or back table, and ultimately refers to the same general area of altar decoration.
How reredos is actually used
Chiefly a specialist term used for the decorative or architectural screen behind an altar. It is especially associated with medieval and Renaissance church furnishings and may also be used more broadly for a church's altar screen.
Easily confused with reredos
A retable is the decorated structure or image immediately behind or above an altar, whereas a reredos more specifically refers to the screen or framework forming that backdrop.
An altar is the table-like structure on which a religious ceremony is performed, while a reredos is the screen or decorated structure behind it.