bas-relief

Meanings

Noun

• A low or mostly-flat sculpture which is carved into a wall, or is in the form of a tile mounted flat to a wall, rather than a fully three-dimensional, free-standing figure.

Adjective

• Refers to any aspect of sculpture which is flat or in the bas relief style.

Related

Similar words

• basso-rilievo, basso-relievo
• cameo
• low relief

Opposite words

• alto-relievo, high relief

Origin

• From French bas-relief, from Italian bassorilievo, compound of basso + rilievo, from Latin relevare ("to raise up, make light").