Relief Sculpture Practice

What is a freestanding sculpture? How many points of view does a freestanding sculpture have?

A freestanding sculpture is a three-dimensional piece of art, which is surrounded by space on all sides. A freestanding sculpture has multiple perspectives.

Define and describe the attributes of a high relief? Examine the relief sculpture above. Explain what attributes make it an example of a high relief.

A high relief is a form of relief that extends at least halfway out of the background. You can see in this relief sculpture that the sculpted parts curve back into the background to created spaces(men and the horses). This action creates strong shadowing and overlapping, and the objects appear to be projecting out of the surface. These attributes can be seen in this relief sculpture and are attributes of a high relief.

Define and describe the attributes of a low relief sculpture. What is another term used to describe a low relief sculpture?

A low relief sculpture has less projection from the background plane than high relief. A low relief can also be called a bas relief

What is a relief? How many points of view does a relief have?

A relief sculpture is a type of sculpture that contains objects embedded in a ground or surface. It has only one point of view, like a painting or drawing has.

What is a sunken relief? Where have many great examples of sunken reliefs been found?

A sunken relief is a type of relief in which the image is carved into a flat surface, so that the background is the raise portion and the sunken portions are the objects and subjects. Many great examples of sunken reliefs been found in Egyptian tombs.

Is this an example of a relief? Why? What type of relief sculpture is it? Explain.

It is an example of a relief because projecting from the background are square panels, placed sideways and forward. It would be an example of a high relief because the squares are entirely projecting from the red background.

Compare relief sculpture to free standing sculpture. What do you think the benefits are of making a relief over a free-standing one? What might be a drawback?

NOT: Relief sculptures contain embedded objects in a ground surface. Whereas, freestanding sculptures are surrounded by space on all sides. I think the benefits of making a relief over a freestanding sculpture would be economical reasons. Since the art is attached to the wall, it doesn't require so much space and is able to portray a far wider range of subjects. It is also free from the problems of weight and physical balance that free-standing sculptures have. A drawback of a relief sculpture is that it can't show the entire circumference since usually half of the sculpture has its back to the wall.

How was relief sculpture first introduced to the United States?

The US Capitol Building is the prime example of Neoclassical art and architecture in America. Construction of the US Capitol started in 1793. In fact, it was through the decoration of the buildings in the new city of Washington, DC that relief sculpture was first introduced to the United States.

Name the three main types of relief sculptures. Which do you think would be the most difficult to create? Why?

The three main types of relief sculptures are high relief, low relief (bas relief), and sunken relief. I think that the sunken relief would be the most difficult to make because you have to carve out the parts you want to see.

How does an artist decide what type of sculpture to create? Imagine you are a sculptor who has been asked to create a sculpture. What influences and circumstance would you consider before deciding the type of sculpture to make?

The type of sculpture depends on the design and final product the artist wishes to produce. The decision of what type of sculpture may be influenced by the environment it will be shown in, the tool and materials the arts has to work with, the time an artist has to create a piece, and/or the purpose of the sculpture.

Examine and describe the image above. What type of relief sculpture is it? Justify your answers.

There are there figures, two of which look like females who are looking at the center figure, placing his hat/crown on his head. There are many carved symbols surrounding the figures that are most likely some type of language. This is a sunken relief. Its figures and images are carved into the flat background.

Examine the two example of reliefs above. What type of relief sculpture is each? Justify your answers.

This is a low relief. Its images are projected off the background, but not so much that they extend at least one-half, or that they curve back into the background creating shadows. This is a sunken relief. Its figures and images are carved into the flat background.