Pioneered by the Renaissance master Donatello , this is an extremely shallow style that uses subtle textures and perspective lines to create a sense of vast distance, much like a drawing in stone. Historical and Narrative Importance

In , sunken relief (where the image is carved into the stone rather than raised) was used on the exterior of temples so that the harsh sunlight would create sharp, legible shadows. In Ancient Greece , the Parthenon Frieze utilized high relief to depict a grand procession, allowing the figures to appear as if they were moving alongside the viewer.

The figures project only slightly from the surface. A common modern example is the imagery found on coins . In low relief, the artist relies more on contour and shadow than on physical volume to convey form.