noun
- Plural of polyptych; a painting, carving, or other artwork consisting of more than three panels or sections hinged or joined together.
Usage: art history; formal
Examples
- The museum's collection includes several medieval polyptychs with intricate religious scenes.
- Renaissance artists often created polyptychs for church altars, with each panel depicting different saints.
- The polyptychs in the cathedral showcase the evolution of painting techniques over centuries.
- These ornate polyptychs were designed to fold and unfold for processional use.
- Art historians study polyptychs to understand how artists composed complex narratives across multiple panels.