Relief
Sculptural method where forms remain attached to a solid background.
Relief is a sculptural technique where the carved or modeled forms stay attached to a solid background made of the same material. The word comes from the Latin *relevare*, meaning "to raise" or "lift back." The goal is to make the sculpted parts appear lifted above the flat background plane. When carving into wood or stone, the background is actually cut away, leaving the untouched areas looking higher. This chiseling process can be time-consuming, but relief sculpture avoids the need to shape the back of a figure and is less fragile than a freestanding piece—especially for standing figures, whose ankles are a weak point in stone. In materials like metal, clay, plaster, stucco, ceramics, or papier-mâché, the form can simply be added onto the background. Monumental bronze reliefs are made by casting.
The degree of projection from the background varies, and Italian or French terms are sometimes used in English. The main types are high relief (where more than half the depth is shown and undercut areas may appear), mid-relief, low relief, and shallow relief (where the plane is only slightly lower than the sculpted elements). Sunk relief, where the form is cut into the background rather than raised, was mostly used in Ancient Egypt. The clearest and most important distinction is between high and low relief, and these two terms are usually sufficient for discussing most works. Definitions can be somewhat flexible, and many pieces combine multiple degrees of relief, sometimes within a single figure, leading some writers to avoid the distinctions altogether. The opposite of relief is counter-relief or intaglio, where the form is cut into the background—this is rare in monumental sculpture. Hyphens are used inconsistently, though "bas-relief" and "counter-relief" are common, while "sunk relief" rarely takes one. Works are described as "in relief," and the piece itself is called "a relief."
Reliefs appear on building walls and in smaller settings worldwide, and a series of panels can tell an extended story. They are better suited than freestanding sculpture for complex scenes with many figures and active poses, like battles. Most ancient architectural reliefs were originally painted, which helped define the forms in low relief. Subjects are not limited to figures; decorative patterns, such as the arabesques in Islamic art, are also common. Rock reliefs are carved in
- definition
- Sculptural method with pieces attached to a solid background
- etymology
- From Latin 'relevare' (to raise)
- types
- High relief, mid-relief, low relief, shallow-relief, sunk relief, counter-relief
- common materials
- Wood, stone, metal, clay, plaster stucco, ceramics, papier-mâché
- opposite
- Counter-relief, intaglio, or cavo-rilievo
- historical use
- Common in Ancient Egypt, Assyria, Near East, Buddhist countries, India, Southeast Asia, and Western art
Lore & Background
Relief sculpture involves carving into a flat surface of wood or stone by lowering the field, leaving unsculpted areas seeming higher. This approach requires chiselling away the background, which can be time-intensive. However, a relief saves forming the rear of a subject and is less fragile and more securely fixed than a sculpture in the round, especially one of a standing figure where the ankles are a potential weak point, particularly in stone. In other materials such as metal, clay, plaster stucco, ceramics, or papier-mâché, the form can be simply added to or raised up from the background. Monumental bronze reliefs are made by casting.
Reader's Guide
Relief sculpture has been a fundamental technique across many cultures and historical periods, from ancient Egyptian and Assyrian palace reliefs to Buddhist and Hindu art of India and Southeast Asia. Its versatility allows for both narrative sequences and decorative patterns, such as arabesques in Islamic art. The technique's practicality—requiring less material and providing greater stability than free-standing sculpture—made it ideal for architectural decoration. Low relief, being cheaper to produce as less background needs removal, was widely used in ancient contexts and revived during the Renaissance, notably in the Tempio Malatestiano. High relief, with its deeper projection and undercutting, allows for more dramatic effects. The 20th century saw a revival of low relief in Art Deco and related styles. Rock reliefs, carved into solid rock in the open air, are found in many cultures, particularly the Ancient Near East and Buddhist countries. The subject of reliefs is assumed to usually be figures, but often includes decorative geometrical or foliage patterns.
Did You Know?
- The term 'relief' comes from the Latin verb 'relevare', meaning 'to raise'.
- Low relief is also known as bas-relief, from the French for 'low relief'.
- Shallow-relief, or rilievo schiacciato, was effectively invented and perfected by the Italian Renaissance sculptor Donatello.
- The opposite of relief sculpture is counter-relief, intaglio, or cavo-rilievo, where the form is cut into the field rather than rising from it.
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