Movement on the Altar: Gothic Tabernacle-altarpieces in the Crown of Aragon (and Their Context)

Abstract

The arrival of tabernacle-altarpieces in regions under the crown of aragon makes up part of a complex context revolving around the evolution of altar furnishings from the late romanesque to the early gothic period. The late 13 th century and first half of the 14 th century saw a series of fundamental movements-changesprior to the verticalization of altarpieces. all of this took place at the same time that specific types of altar furnishing that already existed during the romanesque, such as those presenting a sculptural image inside a tabernacle, became steeped in new features, and evolved by taking on movable wings at the sides which could be ritually opened up. This lent them a certain theatricality and the ability to conceal and reveal, while also allowing for processes activating the central image presiding over them. These, specifically, are some of the main contributions of tabernacle-altarpieces to the history of christian altar furnishing. in the crown