Sterling silver cross altarpiece with religious symbols also available in oxide. Altarpiece is the architectural, pictorial and sculptural structure that stands behind the altar in Catholic churches (in Orthodox churches there is no similar function, given the presence of the iconostasis, and in Protestant churches a great reduction in decoration is usually chosen). The etymology of the word comes from the Latin expression retro tabula (“behind the altar”) .3 To designate the same term, the expression “altar piece” (more typical of the English language -altarpiece-, where retable is distinguished from reredos) 4 or the Italian pala d'altare (or ancona) is frequently used to designate the same term.