dossal
- noun
- /ˈdɑsəl/
- Archaic
:
dossal
- During the service, the priest pointed to the intricate dossal that adorned the chancel.
Examples
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Saint Francis before the Sultan (Fig. 23) differs from earlier versions of the scene, which picture Francis holding an open book as he preaches, as on the dossal of Saint Francis in the Bardi.
Academic text (2006) -
Bellosi attributes to Guido a considerable number of works, including the dossal of Saint Peter in the Siena Pinacoteca Nazionale, which are stylistically very consistent with the illustrations in this manuscript.
Blog text (16) -
The church was beautifully decorated with a colorful dossal hanging behind the altar.
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The artist was commissioned to create a stunning dossal for the new cathedral's altar.
Synonyms
8
2.1
A decorative piece of fabric on a wall or over a window, like a tapestry
1
8.6
A painted or carved panel placed above and behind an altar in a church showing religious pictures
A decorative hanging of rich cloth behind a church altar
Decorated screen behind an altar that holds candles or religious art
A decorated screen behind and above a church altar
How Ornate
Surface Forms
Etymology
Dossal comes from the Latin dorsum, which means 'back'. You can see the same root in dorsal, as in the phrase 'dorsal fin', which also points to the 'back'. It was originally a cloth hung at the 'back' of an altar, so a dossal today is the decorative hanging placed behind the altar.