predella

[ pri-del-uh; Italian pre-del-lah ]

noun

, plural pre·del·le [pri-, del, -ee, p, r, e-, del, -le].

1. Fine Arts. the base of an altarpiece, often decorated with small paintings or reliefs.

predella

/ prɪˈdɛlə; preˈdɛlla /

noun

1. a painting or sculpture or a series of small paintings or sculptures in a long narrow strip forming the lower edge of an altarpiece or the face of an altar step or platform
2. a platform in a church upon which the altar stands

Word History and Origins

Origin of predella¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Italian, from unattested Langobardic predel, pretel, derivative of pret- “board,” from Germanic bret-, source of Old High German brët ( German Brett ), Old English, Old Saxon bred “board, plank”); conformed in Italian to the diminutive suffix -ella; -elle, board

Word History and Origins

Origin of predella¹

C19: from Italian: stool, step, probably from Old High German bret board

Example Sentences

But this design is only the predella beneath the picture “Faith and Love.”

From Project Gutenberg

The three small predella pictures , the Nativity, the martyrdom of Sts.

From Project Gutenberg

The predella pictures are of scenes in the life of St. Hyacinth, who therefore is probably the subject of our panel also.

From Project Gutenberg

This picture was formerly the predella of an altar-piece in San Domenico at Fiesole.

From Project Gutenberg

Two compartments of a predella by him are in the Accademia at Florence, a fourth being in the Louvre.

From Project Gutenberg