BASSO-RILIEVO, or BAS-RELIEF, a piece of sculpture where the figures or images do not protuberate or stand out much above the plane on which they are formed. When cut, stamped, or otherwise wrought, so that not the entire body, but only part of it, is raised above the plane, it is said to be done in relief or rilievo; and when the work is flat, or little raised, it is called low relief. If a piece of sculpture, a coin, or a medal, has its figure raised so as to be well distinguished, it is said to be in bold, strong, or high relief, alto-rilievo.