IPA: /rɪˈtæbloʊ/
KK: /rɪˈtɑbloʊ/
A decorative panel or picture placed behind an altar in a church, often depicting religious scenes or figures.
The artist created a beautiful retablo that captured the essence of the saint's life.
Retablo comes from the Spanish word 'retablo', which is derived from the Latin 'retabulum', meaning a table or altar placed behind a main altar in a church. The word 'retablo' refers specifically to a painted or sculpted altarpiece that is placed behind the altar in a church setting.
Imagine a beautiful 'table' ('tabulum') set behind the altar in a church, which helps you remember that a 'retablo' is an altarpiece displayed behind the altar.