Bas-relief
A bas-relief is a form of sculpture that is carved from a flat two-dimensional plane creating a three-dimensional appearance. The backgrounds are kept shallow from the raised features, usually between a fraction of an inch to a few inches deep. It was predominately used as a decorative feature in the ancient architecture of countries such as Egypt, Greece and Italy.
The term is French and is derived from the Italian basso-relievo (‘low relief’).
A bas-relief is created in one of two ways:
- By carving away material such as wood, stone, ivory, and so on.
- By applying material, such as strips of clay, to the top of an otherwise smooth surface.
The natural contours and shape of that being represented should be retained, which means that the bas-relief can be viewed from different angles without undue visual distortion.
Alto-relievo (high relief) is where the technique is applied to much deeper backgrounds, usually of between a foot and several feet in depth.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Architectural styles.
- Architrave.
- Classical orders in architecture.
- Cornice.
- Crocket.
- Elements of classical columns.
- Entablature.
- Fresco.
- Frieze.
- Gargoyle.
- Grotesque.
- Hunky punk.
- Large-scale murals.
- Moulding.
- Pedestal.
- Pediment.
- Pendentive dome.
- Pilaster.
- Rustication.
- Soffit.
- Stained glass.
- Strapwork.
- Tessera.
- The history of fabric structures.
- Trompe l’oeil.
- Tympanum.
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC Marsh Awards 2022 launched - Submissions Close 31 March
A chance to nominate retired IHBC members and/or successful learners in heritage skills, with prizes that include £500 and a free place at the IHBC’s Aberdeen 2022 Annual School in June.
IHBC-SAHGB announce 2021 annual research award winner
Donald Insall Associates has been announced as the winner of the new joint award with the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB). The award celebrates the quality of architectural-historical research produced as private consultants or for public bodies etc.
IHBC at COP26 - Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet 1-12 Nov 2021
The IHBC seeks to raise awareness and understanding of how building conservation philosophy and practice contributes towards meeting the challenge of climate change.
IHBC's latest CONTEXT explores 'Conservation Leadership by the People'
From Amenity Societies and Wentworth Woodhouse to Kurt Schwitters, Scotland’s Towns, Chester and more...
Edinburgh’s Royal High School to become ‘£55M national centre for music’
The former Royal High School building in Edinburgh is to be transformed into a £55 million national centre for music after the City of Edinburgh Council agreed to the lease of the historic property.
IHBC, CIfA, IEMA launch Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
The joint-institute document aims to help maintain cultural heritage by providing a consistent framework across different sectors & geographies
Enter Now to Win: IHBC's GASA Awards 2021
IHBC’s Gus Astley Student Awards 2021: Win £500 and a place on IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School with your built environment/heritage coursework, closes 31/07!
Former Harris meat factory mansion in Calne, Wilts, to be restored
The last remaining buildings on the site of the Harris meat factory family’s historic mansion are being restored to their former glory and converted into new homes.
CICV Forum introduces professional indemnity insurance guide
The Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV Forum) has unveiled a new guide to the crucial and increasingly complex issue of professional indemnity insurance (PII).
The World Heritage Committee(WHC): Liverpool should lose its World Heritage status.
ICOMOS has advised that the new football stadium proposal, if implemented, would have a completely unacceptable major adverse impact its authenticity and integrity.