Panel painting
![The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck and his brothers, 1432. A large altarpiece on panel. The outer wings are hinged, and painted on both sides.](/Images/godic/202502/01/Eyck.hubert.lamb.750pix4908.jpg")
4908.jpg")
![The Frankfurt Paradiesgärtlein, a German panel painting from circa 1410](/Images/godic/202502/01/Meister_des_Frankfurter_Paradiesgärtleins_0014908.jpg")
![Russian icon by Andrey Rublev, early 15th century, on a three piece panel. The raised edges are probably gesso rather than wood](/Images/godic/202502/01/Angelsatmamre-trinity-rublev-14104909.jpg")
A panel painting is a painting made on a flat panel made of wood, either a single piece, or a number of pieces joined together. Until canvas became the more popular support medium in the 16th century, it was the normal form of support for a painting not on a wall (fresco) or vellum, which was used for miniatures in illuminated manuscripts and paintings for the framing.