Relief
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A relief is a sculptured artwork where a modeled form projects out from a flat background.
Reliefs are a common type of artwork found throughout the world, particularly to decorate monumental buildings, such as temples. 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. Reliefs can be used for a single scene, or ordered into a narrative. They can be very detailed to the extent that even tensed musculature itself may be seen.
[edit] Types of relief
Several types of relief are commonly used and defined although in all cases the images must attach to the background.
- Bas-relief (pronounced "bah"), or low relief, with the background compressed for depth; as seen for example in numismatics. Although unusual, Bas-relief may show faces and even bodies in natural relief.
- Alto-relievo, or high relief, where the image is highly undercut and rendered almost in the round against its flat background. In alto-relief the figures are usually near natural depth and the background is more detailed and deeper.
- Sunken-relief, also known as intaglio or hollow-relief, where the image is carved into the stone, creating in effect a negative, in contrast to other types of relief work where the surrounding stone is carved away to leave the image
[edit] 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, Indonesia
- The Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon now housed at the British Museum.
- The representation of Monticello on a US nickel.
- The Madara Rider near Shumen, Bulgaria.
Persian relief from Qajar era in the style of Persepolis, located at Tangeh Savashi. |
Angels from Clonfert Cathedral, Co Galway, Ireland (adjusted to highlight relief) |
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Yaxchilan Lintel 24, a Mayan carving depicting a blood sacrifice |
Chinese lady musicians from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-960 AD) |