Levels of Relief

BAS RELIEF

Bas Relief, or low relief, is the technique of subtly bringing a 2D scene into 3D. It is a common tool for depicting landscapes and scenes with complete backgrounds. It is easy to reproduce because of the low number of undercuts, and is appropriate for the production of tiles and other commercial products. Bas Relief relies on raking light for readability. Common examples include coinage and medallions.

 

Bas Relief modeled clay original by Tom J. Nicholls, after Turner. This scene contains all of the elements of a painting or drawing with a complete composition including foreground, background, action, and atmosphere.

Bas Relief modeled in clay then molded and cast into resin. Fabric and hair create the background.

MID RELIEF

Between Bas Relief and High Relief is Mid Relief, which shares some of the simpler properties of Low Relief, such as reduced undercuts, but is more volumetric, nearing in-the-round.  It is appropriate for carving in stone because it is less fragile than High Relief. It is easier to see in varying light angles than Bas Relief.

 

Mid Relief marble carving, “Music Weeping”, on Henri Du Mont’s tomb.

On the left is an architectural element of extremely low relief, employing the rules of one-point perspective.

 

HIGH RELIEF

The most volumetric form of relief is High Relief. It contains elements of in-the-round, but is attached to a background scene or panel. This makes it appropriate for works on walls, especially when integrated into a larger narrative. This is the most complex version, and is at its best when cast in metal because of durability. Often, High Relief can be found made from stone as part of entire architectural complexes. In the past, stone was more readily available than cast metal.

 

High Relief modeled in clay, molded, cast in wax, and then bronze, and gilded.

A detail of the Baptistry Doors in Florence. This is an architectural framework into which the doors are suspended.

High Relief cast in bronze, set into a wooden frame. “The Horses of Anahita” or “The Flight of Night”, by William Morris Hunt.

The delicate legs and mane are impractical in any medium but metal or strong resin.

 

SUNK RELIEF

The oldest form of relief is Sunk Relief because it is created from the surface of a stone, where the image is incised and then relieved. It does not rely on a background scene, and can be as simple as a line drawing. Rock walls, and stone corridors are often the venue for Sunk Relief because the sculpting can be done after constructing the wall or corridor. This form can also be created with modern techniques such as sand blasting or concrete casting. It is a durable process because it is protected by the wall surface.

 

 

Sunk Relief stone carving of the Egyptian god Toth, beautifully carved with intricate details. It has survived millennia nearly intact.