Tondo

Tondo is an artwork in the form of a circle. It is most often found in painting and relief, less often in decorative objects (e.g., porcelain). The diameter of a tondo can vary greatly: from small porcelain medallions to large monumental paintings. The classics of the genre are Renaissance Italian tondi, such as those by Michelangelo, which were hung on walls instead of the usual rectangular canvases.

The circular shape of a tondo creates a special dynamic: the composition seems to embrace the viewer, avoiding corners and the traditional "frame." In the 19th century, tondi even appeared on decorative plates and decorative silver; sometimes at auctions one can find real giants "in the round." A famous case is when a porcelain tondo painted by a whole family of artists sold for more than many rectangular masterpieces.