Types: Reliefs
A relief is a piece of sculpture that protrudes from a wall. The subject matter for reliefs generally concerns religious scenes or significant events. Serving as a depiction of an important occurrence or event in Venice, reliefs help to remind Venetians of their history and of related mythology.
Reliefs also provide examples of the artistic styles popular in Venice hundreds of years ago, and demonstrate to historians the legends that certain neighborhoods held dear. Reliefs depicting Saint George slaying the dragon are particularly popular, with Rizzi's catalogue listing 16 throughout Venice. Reliefs are categorized by the percentage of the sculpture that protrudes from the wall. A low relief (bas-relief or bassorilievi) has less than half of its depth protruding from the wall; a high relief (haut-relief or altorilievi) has more than half.
Venice is home to 386 reliefs. Another 40 exist on the lagoon islands. Four reliefs have been noted as missing.
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