Definition of a bas-relief (also called low relief)
The bas-relief is a sculpture adhering to a background from which it slightly juts out.
This category of sculpture is distinguished from the high-relief, a scene in which a part stands out against the background. When the entire relief stands out, the sculpture is called in-the-round.
The low-relief is an artefact created from different techniques such as sculpture, modeling or molding. It can be decorative, abstract or descriptive. That artwork fixes in time an event, a subject, a pattern and embellishes the living environment.
The bas-relief at the Fontaines Pétrifiantes de Saint-Nectaire
Since 1821, this form of art has inspired Jean Serre, the founder of the company, then his descendants in their artistic practices. At Petrifying Fountains of Saint-Nectaire, volcanic springs rich in calcium carbonates are canalized and used for the manufacture of decorative objects in calcite. Two ancestral techniques have been mastered in the company for yet 7 generations: encrustation on mould and crystallization.
The calcium low-relief is the main type of encrustation on mould made at the Fontaines Pétrifiantes de Saint-Nectaire.
The limestone bas-reliefs represent various themes ranging from classical, mythological or religious scenes to contemporary representations.
Origins of the bas-relief in decorative art
This form of art has existed since the Magdalenian (14000 BC) and is part of any element of architecture. The bas-relief is a barely protruding sculpture that remains adherent to the support on which it is executed. The subject cut directly into the material is for ornamental purpose.
The bas-relief results from the Decorative Arts practiced by the Crafts defined by the decorative or functional production of craftsmen and the material to which they give shape. This unique art object once installed in a given environment would influence «the formation of aesthetic consciousness» of the audience evolving around it according to encyclopedist Roger Caratini (1924-2009).
From Egyptian, Greek art to decorative and contemporary art, through Romanesque art, the bas-relief is present in every artistic movement.
The first low-reliefs were engravings on rocks. Then they adorned facades, ceilings, furniture or various objects. Each civilization marks its passage through aesthetic achievements emanating from public or private initiatives. The craftsmen solicited for these projects develop their manual skills and creativity.
The bas-relief, a classical practice, inspired Italian De Vegni to use the carbonate sources of his village. He reinterpreted the cameo, a pattern with very low relief. His creations traveled in a context where cultural exchanges were developing. From a combination of circumstances to encounters between individuals with strong personalities, the Italian technique has experienced a new boom. The Papon family in Saint-Nectaire has appropriated this concept, developed a unique expertise, an inexhaustible creative support, and anchored it in its land.
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