bas-relief
Shallow sculptural projection
Bas-relief is sculpture in which figures project slightly from a flat background, creating a shallow three-dimensional effect.
The technique appears on coins, architectural facades, and memorial plaques.
The marble bas-relief depicted a procession of Roman senators.
The term comes from Italian, meaning low relief—distinguished from high relief, where figures project more dramatically.
Recrystallized limestone rock
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- alabasterTranslucent carving stone
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
bronze · plaster · gypsum · terracotta · ivory · wood · stucco · clay
Ornamental architectural band
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
- medallionLarge decorative disk pendant
- cameoBrief guest appearance
- panelDistinct flat section
tondo · tympanum · pediment · sarcophagus · altarpiece · coinage · seal · insignia
Shaping by cutting away
- chiselEdged carving implement
- gougeConcave carving blade
- malletSoft-headed striking tool
- inciseCut into material
modeling · undercutting · chasing · casting · molding · tooling · finishing · polishing
Relating to the pharaohs' land
- AssyrianAncient Mesopotamian people
- GreekOf Athenian origin
- RomanOf ancient Italy's capital
- ParthenonAncient Greek hilltop temple
Persepolis · Angkor · Romanesque · Renaissance · Baroque · antiquities · temple · tomb
Numerical values or forms
- narrativeAccount of events
- mythologyBody of traditional tales
- portraitArtistic depiction of someone
- effigySculpted human representation
deity · procession · battle · allegory · foliage · arabesque · cartouche · garland
Carving cut below surface
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- foregroundNearest visual plane
- backgroundOne's formative experiences
- graduatedCompleted formal studies
shallow · raised · recessed · layered · dimensional · contour · profile · silhouette
marble
Recrystallized limestone rock
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- alabasterTranslucent carving stone
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
sandstone · bronze · plaster · gypsum · terracotta · ivory · wood · stucco · clay · wax
frieze
Ornamental architectural band
panel · tondo · tympanum · pediment · sarcophagus · altarpiece · coinage · seal · insignia · badge
carving
Shaping by cutting away
incise · modeling · undercutting · chasing · casting · molding · tooling · finishing · polishing · sanding
Egyptian
Relating to the pharaohs' land
Parthenon · Persepolis · Angkor · Romanesque · Renaissance · Baroque · antiquities · temple · tomb · palace
figures
Numerical values or forms
effigy · deity · procession · battle · allegory · foliage · arabesque · cartouche · garland · festoon
intaglio
Carving cut below surface
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- foregroundNearest visual plane
- backgroundOne's formative experiences
graduated · shallow · raised · recessed · layered · dimensional · contour · profile · silhouette · modeling
grain
Cereal plant's harvest unit
- smoothnessFreedom from irregularity
- roughnessUneven surface quality
- tactilityPerceivability through touch
polish · patina · weathering · erosion · surface · matte · glossy · toolmarks · finish · worn
- artfine art, Renaissance, painters, masterpieces, paint
- art formspainting, drawing, sculpture, photography, music
- fine artsfine art, fine arts, painting, visual arts, sculpture
- visual artdrawing, fine art, painting, portrait, sketch
- artworkpaintings, portrait, drawings, drawing, illustrations
- craftssewing, knitting, painting, glue, scissors
bas-reliefhigh relief
Deeply projecting carved forms
statue · sunken relief · intaglio · mobile · kinetic sculpture
bas-reliefintaglio
Carving cut below surface
sunken relief · engraving · etching · cameo