51 The Holy Cross retable installed together with the modern paneling (Fig. 75). It remains completely unclear what the original design of the lower area might have been. The selection of the decorative motifs of the Holy Cross altarpiece both in carved relief and in the polychrome decoration still remains very much within the renaissance tradition. However, the symmetrically ornamented columns already point to the Mannerism of the late 16th century. The architrave shows a dentil and egg-and-dart cornice, carved acanthus ornamentation scrolled in opposite directions and a central cartouche in classical form in the frieze (Fig. 76). The retable stills shows the original polychromy. Gilded ornaments are set against a dark blue background. This is most prominent in the columns, pilasters, and the frieze. The polychrome decoration of the flat surfaces of the predella is imitating an inlaid work with a system of combined rectangular frames and oval forms in red and blue in front of a white background (Fig. 77). The coloured areas are decorated with a pattern of white floral ornaments, evoking an engraved and filled work. This decoration is reminiscent of pietra dura work. Some of these surfaces are worn out, making the ornaments hard to discern. Fig. 77: Central motif of the predella; condition as found
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