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 nickel

See also

• Alto-relievo
• Bas-relief
• Sunken-relief