Page:A History of Art in Chaldæa & Assyria Vol 2.djvu/133

Materials. 115 episode of which this is the original sketch or not. 1 So far as we can tell, however, the exact passage executed after this model is not in the museum, but we must not forget that a large number of the sculptures were left in the palace where they were found ; Mr. Rassam only removed the finest and those in the best condition. The small winged bull carved in the finest limestone, which Mr. George Smith brought from Nimroud, was, no doubt, a model of the same sort (see Vol. I. Figs. &$ and 84). Its execution is of the most careful description, and yet it can hardly have had any other use. We may say the same of the square slab of terra-cotta just mentioned ; its figures are too small for the Fig. 52. — Head of a lioness. Louvre. Actual size. decoration of palace- saloons, and the material is too common to have formed a part of those rich schemes of ornament whose existence is attested by the texts as well as by the remains. We can suggest no more plausible explanation of these little monu- ments, or one in more complete accord with the necessities of rapid production. We have already shown that a vast number of hands were required for the prompt execution of these great sculptural works, and the provision of such models, whether in stone or terra-cotta, would do much towards preventing the evil consequences of employing so many different and variously gifted 1 The slab numbered 107 contains, perhaps, the nearest approach to a reproduction of the group in question.