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Glite Dictionary
🎨 A folk painting ⛪ An altar screen
retablo

retablo

1 9.9
A small painting that shows saints or religious scenes, often from Mexico
  • noun
  • /rɪˈtɑːbloʊ/
  • UK
translation icon : retablo
  • The colorful retablos in the gallery depict scenes of religious devotion and local saints.
  • retablo painting

Examples

  • Drawing on Byzantine devotional works and Mexican retablos, Mulvaney reconstitutes the citizens of the world as subject to the ghosts of terrible history rather than betrayers of a higher standard.

    Blog text (10)

  • They learn who painted the retablos and that the parish has undertaken the arduous task of restoration.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • At the festival, artists displayed beautiful retablos that told stories of miracles and faith.

  • Visitors admired the intricate retablos that highlighted the rich tradition of Mexican folk art.

Synonyms

reredos
vsretablo
  • Specialized
9.9

A decorated screen behind and above a church altar

is a devotional painted panel used at the altar often folk art and portable

Surface Forms

retablo singular
retablos plural

Etymology

Retablo comes from Latin parts retro- 'behind' and tabula 'table' or 'board'. A retablo was the painted board put 'behind' the altar, so the word now means a devotional painting or small altarpiece.