Retablo, Cuzco, Peru. Photo: Robert Lende RETABLOS ich surface decoration in architecture developed especially during the Baroque period of the 17th and 18th centuries. Retablos, immense and ornately sculptured altarpieces, were constructed in sections at special workshops and then sent to churches throughout the provinces where they were assembled in final form. Retablo motifs were frequently restated on the façade of the church itself. The rich and complex decoration reflected artistic impulses that were uniquely Latin American.						4 of 7   Colonial Life