RETABLE, called moat commonly by English architectural writers Reredos, the screen of wood or stone placed at the back of and above the altar in mcdheval churches. Retables do not appear to have oome into use tal towards the cud of the 13th century, the throne of the bishop having been till then usually placed at the end of the epee and bellied the altar, so that anything riming above the altar would have obetructed the v kw of the congregation. At first the ratable was merely a low screen, with a mingle row of seri' rural figures placed in Melee. Rot in the 15th century whether of marble, stone. or acre mule of large site, and adonsed with a profusion of sculpture embodying the beat sculptural art of the period. In Ger many especially, they were often of extravagant height and costliness, reaching setnettniee to the chancel roof, and covered with a multitude of small egures. In our oau country they sometimes extenatel quite across the chauoel. The loading events of the lives of the saint to whom the altar was dedicated were now often represented, the carved figure. being coloured, and the ground gilt : characteristics examples may be seen at the South Kensington 31useurn, in one of French work snit a large slumber of figures in high relief, of about 1500; and one of carved oak of the latter part of the 15th century of Flemish work, *aid to have been brought from the cathedral of St. Baron, Ghent ;
while in the same collection is a still more remarkable triptych retable of the 15th century (No. 1S11 of German work, in which the life and martyrdom of S. 31argaret are represented by numerous small figures arra:wet in coustartmeata, which retain much of the original colour and gilding. Several other retables of mediteval date are in the same museum ; and alas one or two iu marble of Italian renaissance work. Portable diptych and triptych retablee were much used in the 16th century, of which some very beautiful specimens in ivory and in enamel are at South Kensington. Many of the churches of the continent, retain fine exampka of neeliteval retables; and many fine rerodoster, as the fixed Triable was hero called, may be seen, more or less muti lated, in our oats Gothic churches, as at Durham, Gloucester, and Bristol cathedrals, St. Alban's Abbey Church, Henry Chapel, Westminster Abbey, St. Saviour's, Southwark, &e.
nEra IN Ell cEIECLTOR ; Sem eaxr -ar- La w.]