View source for Relief

''This page contains information about a typical Venetian relief.''
{{for|a list of reliefs|Reliefs}}

==Types==
[[Image:Figure4_relief.jpg |right|thumb|A relief depicting the column and lion in the Piazza San Marco]]

Relief sculptures are categorized by the percentage of protrusion from the  base structure that the sculpture features. The general distinction that  is made, being somewhat subjective, is between high and low reliefs.

===Low Relief===
A low relief (''bas-relief'' or ''bassorilievi)'' is one in which the depth of the sculpture is quite shallow and remains in close proximity to the base of the work. Less than half of the depth of a low relief will be protruding out of the sculpture. Viewed from the side, the image depicted in a low relief is practically indiscernible.

===High Relief===
A high relief (''haut-relief'' or ''altorilievi'') is a sculpture in which forms project out to half or more than half of the original depth of the piece. As is sometimes the case, high relief sculptures may in fact also include features of low reliefs, with the backgrounds of some works laying close to the surface and displaying fewer intricate three-dimensional details. This is often done to produce the illusion of depth in a work, where images in lower relief are intended to be viewed as further back in the scene.

===Patere===
A  specialized type of relief is known as the [[patere|patera]]. Generally small and  circular (about 20-80 cm across and 8 cm deep), [[patere]] are made most  often from slices of marble columns. [[Patere]] trace back to Byzantine  culture and are recognized as the oldest form of Venetian [[public art]].

==See Also==
{{ReliefsNav}}
{{PublicArtNav}}

==References==
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==Bibliography==
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-122610-103308/ 2010 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-122207-150125/ 2008 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-122207-150125/ 2007 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]
*[http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Scanned/00E050I 2000 WPI PreserVenice Project Team]

==External Links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief English Wikipedia article about a typical relief]
*[http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rilievo Italian Wikipedia article on reliefs]

[[Category:Reliefs]]
[[Category:Public Art]]
[[Category:Material Culture]]