The Grip Altarpiece

The Grip altarpiece is a 16th century altarpiece that is found in a stave church on Gripholmen, an islet off the Norwegian coast.

The altarpiece is divided into three arched niches, with the middle niche taller than the flanking ones. Each niche contains a sculpture, with the central sculpture being a Virgin and Child. The altarpiece is painted in blue, brown, and red, and the arched tops of the niches are decorated with carved latticework. The wings of the altarpiece are lost.

This paper will introduce the Grip altarpiece and give a description of its original construction. Where appropriate, comparisons to other altarpieces in Norway with a similar provenance and dating will be made, and possible evidence of “mass production” will be discussed.