Triptych and diptych paintings
One work across two or three canvases: how to hang a set, and how wide it really needs to be.
A triptych is a single painting split across three canvases; a diptych uses two. The form comes from medieval altarpieces, and it survives because it solves a practical problem: a wide wall needs a wide work, and three panels are far easier to carry, hang and align than one enormous stretcher.
Hang the panels with a consistent gap of 5 to 10 cm and align their centres on one horizontal line. The gap is part of the work: too wide and the panels stop reading as a single piece, too narrow and the composition looks like a printing error.
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Dorian Verdier
Founder of L'Original · HEC academic author on the democratization of art
Dorian Verdier founded the first gallery of its kind in North America and has spent ten years making original art accessible. His academic work at HEC focuses on the democratization of art, the same conviction that guides every collection on L'Original.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a triptych and a diptych?
The number of panels: three for a triptych, two for a diptych.
Both are one artwork, conceived together, not separate pieces that happen to match.
How much space should I leave between the panels?
Between 5 and 10 cm, kept identical across every gap.
Measure the total width including the gaps before you buy: a three-panel set of 3 x 50 cm with 8 cm gaps occupies 166 cm of wall, not 150.
Can I commission a triptych to fit my wall?
Yes, and it is the most common reason people commission one.
Send us the wall width and the height available, and the artist works out the panel sizes and gaps so that the finished set fits the space exactly.
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