B.
The Picturesque
Behind the scenes
Leaving certain earthquake-damaged buildings as picturesque ruins has been the subject of debate in Christchurch recently.
Colin Muerk, for example, saw value in preserving ruins (Press, 9 August 2011) while Professor Ian Lochhead, in advocating the repair of the Provincial Council buildings, stressed the need for a very long time delay between a building's destruction and the acceptance of it in a new, picturesque, role (Press, 19 August 2011).
Simply for our blog-readers' viewing pleasure, here are a couple of hardcore picturesque ruins from our own collection; the first was published, appropriately enough in the folio Picturesque Views on the Southern Coast of England, published in 1816.
![George Cooke Netley Abbey, Hampshire. Engraving. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Sir Joseph Kinsey bequest](/media/cache/6c/d8/6cd8acbe133a9e79b478f8340e3347a3.jpg)
George Cooke Netley Abbey, Hampshire. Engraving. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Sir Joseph Kinsey bequest
![Henry Davy Remains of Leiston Abbey, Suffolk. Etching. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Sir Joseph Kinsey bequest](/media/cache/f4/ee/f4eec19ae3c22834fce8b8acb574c23e.jpg)
Henry Davy Remains of Leiston Abbey, Suffolk. Etching. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Sir Joseph Kinsey bequest