Diptych
A diptych is a two-part painting in the painting. Its function finds it especially for worship or altarpiece. Purely secular diptychs are mostly portraits of married couples. The two halves of the diptych are connected with a hinge to enable opening and closing.
The origin of the painted diptych is found in ancient writing tablets of wax, which evolved into painted panels in the early Middle Ages carved ivory tablets in Byzantium. On one side of the diptych of the object of worship is seen. On the other there is then, for example, the principal of the image. The backs of the diptych can also be painted.
Example of a spiritual diptych
Right side of the Wilton diptych, about 1395
Example of a secular diptych
Wife Dorothea Kanngießer, Hans Holbein the Younger, 1516, Kunstmuseum Basel
More diptychs
- Wilton Diptych by the Master of the Wilton diptych
- Annunciation by Jan van Eyck
- Diptych with the judgment of Cambyses by Gerard David
- Crucifixion by Rogier van der Weyden
- Diptych of Maarten van Nieuwenhove by Hans Memling
- Vienna diptych by Hugo van der Goes
- Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza by Piero della Francesca
- Diptych of Melun by Jean Fouquet
- Adam and Eve by Albrecht Dürer