1. a painting or decorative work executed entirely in shades of gray or another neutral color
Usage: art
2. a style of painting or decoration using only gray tones to create the illusion of sculpture
Usage: art; decorative arts

Examples

• The chapel walls featured beautiful grisaille paintings that looked like carved stone reliefs.
• Medieval manuscripts often included grisaille illustrations alongside colorful illuminations.
• The artist chose grisaille technique to emphasize form and shadow over color.
• Renaissance painters used grisaille for preliminary studies before adding color.
• The decorative grisaille panels created an elegant monochromatic effect in the room.
• Museum visitors admired the delicate grisaille work on the ancient vase.