Relief (disambiguation) facts for kids

A relief is a special type of sculpture where shapes and figures stick out from a flat background. Think of it like a picture that comes to life and pops out at you! Artists create reliefs by carving away material or by building up shapes on a flat surface.

What is a Relief Sculpture?

Relief sculptures are different from sculptures you can walk all the way around (called "sculptures in the round"). Instead, they are attached to a background, like a wall or a panel. This means you can only see them from the front or sides, not from behind.

Artists have used relief sculptures for thousands of years to tell stories, decorate buildings, and honor important people or events. You can find them on ancient temples, tombs, and even modern buildings.

Types of Reliefs

There are a few main types of relief sculptures, depending on how much they stick out from the background:

Bas-Relief (Low Relief)

Bas-relief (pronounced "bah-re-LEEF") is a French term meaning "low relief." In this type, the sculpted parts stick out only a little bit from the background. It's almost like a drawing that has a slight 3D effect. Coins often use bas-relief, where the figures are just slightly raised. Ancient Egyptian carvings are also famous for their beautiful bas-reliefs.

Haut-Relief (High Relief)

Haut-relief (pronounced "oh-re-LEEF") means "high relief." Here, the sculpted figures stick out much more from the background, sometimes almost completely. Parts of the figures might even be fully detached from the background, except for a small connection. This type of relief creates strong shadows and a very dramatic look. Many ancient Greek and Roman sculptures on buildings are high reliefs.

Sunken Relief

Sunken relief is a less common type, mostly found in ancient Egyptian art. Instead of the figures sticking out, the carving is cut into the flat surface. The outlines of the figures are deeply carved, and the shapes inside are then modeled within that sunken area. This makes the figures appear recessed into the surface.

How Are Reliefs Made?

Relief sculptures can be made using many different materials and methods:

• Carving: Artists carve away material like stone, wood, or ivory to reveal the shapes.
• Modeling: They can also build up shapes using soft materials like clay or wax, which can then be cast in bronze or other metals.
• Repoussé: This technique involves hammering metal from the back to create a raised design on the front.

Famous Examples of Reliefs

Relief sculptures have been important throughout history:

• Ancient Egypt: Many temples and tombs are covered in bas-reliefs and sunken reliefs showing gods, pharaohs, and daily life.
• Ancient Greece and Rome: The Parthenon in Athens, Greece, has famous high-relief sculptures called metopes and a long frieze (a band of sculpture) that show battles and processions. Roman triumphal arches, like the Arch of Titus, also feature detailed high-reliefs celebrating victories.
• Medieval Europe: Cathedrals often have intricate stone reliefs around their doorways, telling stories from the Bible.
• Renaissance: Artists like Donatello and Ghiberti created stunning bronze reliefs with incredible depth and detail, often using a technique called "schiacciato" (flattened relief) which is a very shallow bas-relief.

Relief sculptures are a fantastic way to see art that combines the flatness of a painting with the three-dimensional quality of a statue!

See also

Analgesic Humanitarian aid In Spanish: Relieve para niños