M.Flandin also believed that he could detect, in some instances, a faint trace of yellow ochre on the flesh and on the background of bas-reliefs, whence he concluded that this tint was spread over every part not otherwise colored.
It is evident, therefore, that the theory of an absence of color, or of a very rare use of it, must be set aside.

Indeed, as it is certain that the upper portions of the palace walls, both inside and outside, were patterned with colored bricks, covering the whole space above the slabs, it must be allowed to be extremely improbable that at a particular line color would suddenly and totally cease.

The laws of decorative harmony forbid such abrupt transitions; and to these laws all nations with any taste instinctively and unwittingly conform.

The Assyrian reliefs were therefore, we may be sure, to some extent colored.

The real question is, to what extent in the Egyptian or in the classical style?
In Mr.Layard's first series of "Monuments," a preference was expressed for what may be called the Egyptian theory.