How to Understand Types of Sculpture

A sculpture is a three-dimensional object with mass that inhabits space. There are two major types of sculpture, freestanding and relief. Freestanding is a detached sculpture seen from all sides. This includes statues, busts, equestrian, fountain and kinetic sculptures. Relief sculptures project from or are incised into a surface and viewed from the front and sides. Types of relief include incised, low and high relief.

Instructions

1. Explore websites with sculpture. Learn the different types of sculpture and find examples of each. There are many websites with images of sculpture available.

2. Engage in sculpture physically. Visit art galleries and sculpture gardens. Walk around the sculpture if you are able. If you are planning a trip to a museum, check their website before going to get information on the sculpture.

3. Recognize the types of relief sculptures. The incised or intaglio relief was popular in Egypt. Bas or low relief was used is Assyria and several exist from the Palace of King Ashurnasirpal. An example of high relief is the "Lion Gate" in Mycenae Greece. The doors (portals) and over-the-door sections (tympanums) of Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals are often carved in high relief.

4. Learn about the modern types of freestanding or "in-the-round" sculpture. Assembly works combine different elements to create an object. Earthworks are site specific and usually outdoors. Installation uses materials to create an experience in a specific place. Kinetic sculpture contains pieces that move.

5. Consider the materials used. Sculpture can be made of many different materials, not just stone or metal.

6. Look at the relationship between the environment and the object. Brancusi's "Bird in Space" is abstract, yet gives a feeling of flight. Factor in the size because the dimensions give you a certain experience. Michelangelo's "David" is more than 14 feet tall. Oldenburg's "Clothespin, Philadelphia" is the height of a four-story building.

7. Identify the purpose of the sculpture. It can be non-functional like Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne" or decorative as in the coat of arms on the fence of Buckingham Palace. Other functional sculptures include commemorative tombs, plaques or columns; ceremonial masks and totem poles; and fertility symbols like the pre-historic "Venus" of Willendorf.

Tips & Warnings

• Read about the history of art to appreciate the development of sculpture across time. Learn about different styles, terms and techniques of sculpture. The more you learn about sculpture, the easier it will be to understand.