panel. Term in painting for a support of wood or other rigid material, as distinct from canvas or other flexible material such as silk. Until the introduction of canvas in the 15th century, nearly all movable paintings in Europe were executed on wood, and it was probably not until the early 17th century that canvas overtook wood in popularity and could be regarded as the standard support for oil painting. When the word ‘panel’ is used without qualification in art-historical contexts, it therefore almost invariably implies wood, but many other rigid materials have been used as supports. Painters who worked on a small scale often used copper plates, like those of engravers or etchers (Elsheimer is a leading example), and in the colonial art of South America copper and tin and even lead and zinc were employed. Various stones have also been used as supports, including marble (see Stella, Jacques) and, on a larger scale, slate, notably by Sebastiano del Piombo in several works and by Rubens in his altarpiece for S. Maria in Vallicella (the Chiesa Nuova) in Rome; the picture he originally painted, on canvas (Virgin and Child Adored by St Gregory and Other Saints, 1607, Mus. B.-A., Grenoble), was said to reflect the light unpleasantly and slate was used for the replacement to produce a more matt finish (1608, in situ). In a more experimental vein, Stubbs painted numerous pictures on earthenware panels, using enamel paints, hoping that works produced in this way would retain their freshness and resist cracking better than oil paintings. Technically his results were impressive, but the smooth, glossy finish was not to everyone's taste, and the process was too demanding and expensive to attract imitators.

The choice of wood for panels depended mainly on local availability. In Italy, poplar was most commonly used, and oak was preferred in northern Europe. Many other types were used, however; analysis of the contents of art galleries has yielded a long list, including beech, cedar, chestnut, fir, larch, linden, mahogany, olive, and walnut. Today cedar, teak, and dark walnut are favourites. The panel must be well seasoned to remove resin and gum as otherwise it may warp and split. Cennini advised that small panels should be boiled to prevent splitting, presumably because this removes some of the resin, and modern experts recommend steaming for the same reason. For a large picture several pieces had to be accurately jointed together and glued with casein, a difficult operation that is described in medieval treatises. Modern painters have also used plywood, fibre-board, and other synthetic materials as supports (see also academy board).

Painting directly on wood is not satisfactory because the wood absorbs too much of the paint and does not reflect enough light, besides reacting chemically with some of the pigments. Moreover, some woods darken in course of time. Normally, therefore, after any filling up of holes that was necessary, the panel was sized and coated with several layers of gesso, or of chalk, so that it presented a smooth, even ground. The backs of panels also require protection against woodworm and against damp, which can cause warping and rot.

pan·el / ˈpanl/ • n. 1. a thin, typically rectangular piece of wood or glass forming or set into the surface of a door, wall, or ceiling. ∎  a thin piece of metal forming part of the outer shell of a vehicle: body panels for the car business. ∎  a flat board on which instruments or controls are fixed: a control panel. ∎  a decorated area within a larger design containing a separate subject: the central panel depicts the Crucifixion. ∎  one of several drawings making up a comic strip. ∎  a piece of material forming part of a garment. 2. a small group of people brought together to discuss, investigate, or decide on a particular matter, esp. in the context of business or government: we assembled a panel of experts. ∎  a list of available jurors or a jury. 3. the soft underside of a saddle, typically of foam or wool. • v. (-eled , -el·ing ; Brit. -elled, -el·ling) [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (paneled) cover (a wall or other surface) with panels: an elegant paneled dining room. ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French, literally ‘piece of cloth,’ based on Latin pannus ‘(piece of) cloth.’ The early sense ‘piece of parchment’ was extended to mean ‘list,’ whence the notion ‘advisory group.’ Sense 1 derives from the late Middle English sense ‘distinct (usually framed) section of a surface.’

panel. Term in painting for a support of wood, metal, or other rigid material, as distinct from canvas. Until the introduction of canvas in the 15th century, nearly all movable paintings in Europe were executed on wood, and even up to the beginning of the 17th century it is probable that as much painting was done on the one support as on the other. Painters who worked on a small scale often used copper panels (Elsheimer is a leading example), and in the colonial art of South America copper and tin and even lead and zinc were used. On a larger scale, slate has occasionally been used as a support, for example by Rubens for his altarpiece for S. Maria in Vallicella (the Chiesa Nuova) in Rome; the picture he originally painted, on canvas (Virgin and Child Adored by St Gregory and Other Saints, 1607, Mus. B.-A., Grenoble), was said to reflect the light unpleasantly and slate was used for the replacement to produce a more matt finish (1608, in situ). The choice of wood for panels depended mainly on local availability. In Italy, poplar was most commonly used, and oak was preferred in northern Europe. Many other types were used, however; analysis of the contents of art galleries has yielded a long list, including beech, cedar, chestnut, fir, larch, linden, mahogany, olive, and walnut. Today cedar, teak, and dark walnut are favourites, and modern painters have also used plywood, fibreboard, and other synthetic materials as supports (see also Academy Board).

panel.
1. Flat plane surface surrounded by mouldings or channels, or by other surfaces in different planes. Architectural panels are generally rectangular, but can be circular, square, quatrefoiled, or other shapes. Blind tracery is really a type of panelling. The sunken surface of the panel is often charged with ornament, e.g. parchemin. See also boiserie. Panels are commonly found in ceilings, doors, wainscots, etc., and are separated by frames, etc., called panel-dividers, while the beads and other mouldings holding them in their frames are panel-mouldings and can be of various types (e.g. bolection, ogee, etc). Types of panel include:fielded: with a flat central portion projecting above the edges of the panel, and sometimes beyond the frame;flush: with the face in the same plane as the frame around it, often with a flush bead on the edges next to the panel to mask the joint;linen-fold: decorated with parchemin plié;lying: with its greater dimension horizontal;raised and fielded: as flelded: as flelded above, i.e. with a flat raised surface, but surrounded by a sunken, moulded, or bevelled edge;sunk: with the face recessed from the frame.

2. Subdivision of a bay of a timber-framed wall defined by studs and rails, called a pane.

Bibliography

Alcock,, Barley,, Dixon,, & and Meeson (1996);
W. McKay (1957);
J. Parker (1850);
Sturgis et al. (1901–2)

PANEL

A list of jurors to serve in a particular court or for the trial of a designated action. A group of judges of a lesser number than the entire court convened to decide a case, such as when a nine-member appellate court divides into three, three-member groups, and each group hears and decides cases. A plan in reference to prepaid legal services.

The term open-panel legal services refers to a plan in which legal services are paid for in advance, usually by insurance, but in which members can select their own lawyers. Under a closed panel, all legal services are rendered by a group of attorneys previously chosen by the insurer, the union, or another entity.

panel piece of cloth placed under the saddle XIII; saddle consisting of a rough pad XVI; piece of parchment (attached to a writ) on which names of jurors were written, (hence) list of jurymen, jury XIV; section of a fence XV; compartment of a door, etc. XVI; thin board used for a painting XVIII; large size of photograph XIX. — OF. panel piece of cloth, saddle cushion, piece (mod. panneau):- Rom. *pannellus, dim. of L. pannus PANE; see -EL2.

Panel

a list of people; the people on such a list.

Examples : panel of experts; of interviewers; of judges; of jurymen; of patients.

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