[ALTAR- 3.] A painting or sculpture placed behind and over an altar; a reredos.
1644. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 127. The altar-piece of St. Michael being of Mosaic.
1762. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), I. 81. A much admired work of Mabuse was an altar-piece at Middleburgh.
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 305. Altar-pieces were originally portable.
