Traditional Painting Board Size Correspondence Chart
In painting and framing, canvas formats are standardized.
Stretchers formats and sizes (international)
The options are endless and include square, rectangular, oval, round, and custom-made frames. In Europe, whether in Belgian, German, or English, the length-to-width ratio is expressed in round numbers according to the metric system (40x50cm, 60x80cm, etc.).
Anglo-saxon countries likes the USA and England use inches to measure canvas sizes (1 inch = 2,54 cm), but the principle is the same.
Chassis formats (France)
Manufacturers in France traditionally provide proportional formats that are based on mathematical ratios that are partially related to the golden ratio. According to the harmony principles, the canvas formats are divided into three groups: Figure, Landscape, and Marine. Compared to the Figure format, which is more square-like, the Marine format has a longer dimension.
The names used to identify the formats are divided into three groups that historically correspond to the formats used by painters in accordance with the subjects they addressed. These French formats have the advantage of making it simpler to enlarge or reduce the subject during reproduction because they were designed in accordance with a proportionality rule.
- F: "Figure" (Face in french language)
For subject related to faces and portraits. The "Door of Harmony" is the foundation upon which the Landscape format is built. The length to width ratio is 1.5. - P: "Paysage" (landscape in french language)
For subjects related to landscape, mountain-scape, some city-scape. The Golden ratio is used in the construction of the Marine format. The length to width ratio is 1.61. - M: "Marine"
For subjects related to marine, see, boats and vessels. The "Figure" format is a double Golden rectangle
The "Figure" formats are practically square, the "Marine" format is much more panoramic, and the "Paysage" format is rectangular.
As a result, three formats: the "Figure F," "Landscape P," and "Marine M" are offered in various sizes.
Example of reading:
a painting n°40F is equal to 100x81 cm.
N° | F | P | M |
0 | 18 x 14 | 18 x 12 | 18 x 10 |
1 | 22 x 16 | 22 x 14 | 22 x 12 |
2 | 24 x 19 | 24 x 16 | 24 x 14 |
3 | 27 x 22 | 27 x 19 | 27 x 16 |
4 | 33 x 24 | 33 x 22 | 33 x 19 |
5 | 35 x 27 | 35 x 24 | 35 x 22 |
6 | 41 x 33 | 41 x 27 | 41 x 24 |
8 | 46 x 38 | 46 x 33 | 46 x 27 |
10 | 55 x 46 | 55 x 38 | 55 x 33 |
12 | 61 x 50 | 61 x 46 | 61 x 38 |
15 | 65 x 54 | 65 x 50 | 65 x 46 |
20 | 73 x 60 | 73 x 54 | 73 x 50 |
25 | 81 x 65 | 81 x 60 | 81 x 54 |
30 | 92 x 73 | 92 x 65 | 92 x 60 |
40 | 100 x 81 | 100 x 73 | 100 x 65 |
50 | 116 x 89 | 116 x 81 | 116 x 73 |
60 | 130 x 97 | 130 x 89 | 130 x 81 |
80 | 146 x 114 | 146 x 97 | 146 x 89 |
100 | 162 x 130 | 162 x 114 | 162 x 97 |
120 | 195 x 130 | 195 x 114 | 195 x 97 |