What is relief sculpture?

October 2006 Relief sculpture—sculpture that projects in varying degrees from a two-dimensional background—has a distinguished history dating back over 20,000 years in Eastern and Western cultures. Alto-relievo (high relief) approaches three dimensions while bas-relief (low relief) at times is more akin to two-dimensional drawing.

Where did high reliefs come from?

High reliefs first became common in the sculpture of the ancient Greeks, who fully explored the artistic potentialities of the genre. Attic tomb reliefs from the 4th century bce showing individual figures or family groups are notable examples, as are the sculptured friezes used in the decoration of the Parthenon and other classical temples.

When did reliefs become a popular art form?

While this practice continued in nineteenth-century Europe and America, especially on civic buildings, reliefs were popular as an independent art form. They serve as funerary markers ( 26.120) and as subsidiary panels on the bases of outdoor commemorative sculptures.