alto-relievo

A sculptor carefully carves an alto-relievo into a marble panel.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of sculpture in high relief: "alto-relievo" refers to a sculptural technique in which figures or forms project significantly from the background surface, often by more than half of their natural depth. It is also known as "high relief."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The museum displayed an impressive alto-relievo of a battle scene. (A sculpture in high relief showing a battle.)
  • Ancient Greek temples often featured alto-relievo carvings on their friezes. (Sculptures with deep projection used in architectural decoration.)

Advanced Usage

• "in alto-relievo": used to describe the method or style of a sculpture.
  • The figures were carved in alto-relievo, giving them a dramatic three-dimensional effect. (The figures were carved with high projection from the background.)

Variants and Related Words

• Alto-relievo (also spelled alto-rilievo): the same term, from Italian, meaning "high relief."
• Relievo (n): a general term for relief sculpture.
• Basso-relievo (n): low relief, where figures project only slightly from the background.

Synonyms

• High relief: a more common English term for the same sculptural technique.
• Altorelievo: an alternative spelling.

Related Idioms

• "in high relief": used metaphorically to mean something is very prominent or clearly visible.
  • Her achievements stood out in high relief against her humble beginnings. (Her successes were very noticeable and distinct.)