Relief

Relief, as distinguished from 'sculpture in the round,' is one of the oldest forms of mural decoration, and in many cases is a subordinate department of architectural art rather than a branch of sculpture proper. It is low relief (bas-relief, basso-rilievo), middle (mezzo-rilievo), and high relief (alto-rilievo) according as the carved figures project very little, in a moderate degree, or in a very considerable degree from the background. The ancient Egyptians practised a peculiar kind of low relief and intaglio combined (see EGYPT, Vol. IV. p. 237). The wall-sculptures of Assyria (q.v.) and Babylonia (q.v.) are mostly in very low relief. The Elgin Marbles (q.v.), from the Parthenon of Athens, are the most notable example of high relief. See SCULPTURE.