Some Observations on the Role of Liturgy in the Early Winged Altarpiece

In positing an essentially liturgical function for the early winged altarpiece, this essay challenges the theory that movable wings were first added to altarpieces to facilitate the housing of relic collections on the altar. A formal and iconographical examination of five well-known winged German altarpieces dating from the first half of the 14th century reveals a diverse use of their wings to change the altarpiece imagery in relation to the liturgical calendar. Finally, evidence of the existence of large painted winged altarpieces dating shortly after 1300 is presented as the link between early medieval altarpiece design and the late Gothic Schnitzaltar.