A relief is a sculptured artwork where a modeled form is raised (or alternatively lowered) from a flattened background without being disconnected from it. Reliefs are common throughout the world, for example on monumental buildings. The frieze in the classical Corinthian order is often enriched with bas-relief (low relief). Alto-relievo (high-relief) may been seen in the pediments of classical temples, e.g., the Parthenon. Occasionally, several reliefs together represent a sequence of events.
Types of relief
Liegende Hetäre. around 2nd century, Head is missing
- Bas-relief = ('bah relief") is where the overall depth of a projecting image is shallow. The background is compressed to such an extent it may be flat, as on coins.
- Alto-relievo Alto-relief is where the image is highly undercut and rendered almost in the round against the background. Images are usually near natural depth. The background is detailed and deeper.
- Sunken-relief, also known as intaglio or hollow-relief, is where the "background" is flat, but is nearest the viewer, while the image is deeper, carved into the flat surface.
Famous reliefs
Famous examples of reliefs include:
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, South Dakota
- Great Altar of Pergamon, now at the Pergamon Museum, Berlin
- Lions and dragons from the Ishtar Gate,Babylon
- Temple of Karnak in Egypt
- Angkor Wat in Cambodia
- The images of the elephant, horse, bull and lion at the bottom of the Lion Capital of Asoka, the national symbol of India (the Capital itself is a full sculpture
- glyphs and artwork of the Maya civilization
- The monument to the Confederacy at Stone Mountain, Georgia
- Borobudur temple, Java Island Java, Indonesia
- The Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon now housed at the British Museum.
- The representation of Monticello on a US Nickel (U.S. coin)|nickel.
See also
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