The Theme Recycling, Reconstruction and Preservation examines how ruins have been used and interpreted, focusing on the many social, political, and artistic purposes to which ruins have been put.

Anne Claude Philippe, Comte de Caylus
French, 1692–1765
Excavation of architectural fragments in a classical landscape
French, active late eighteenth century
Engraving frontispiece from Anne-Claude-Philippe, Comte de Caylus, Recueil d'antiquités égyptiennes, étrusques, grecques et romaines
Paris: Desaint & Saillant, 1752–1767
92-B25956

Charles-Louis Clérisseau
French, 1721–1820
Interior of Roman baths and statue of Hygeia at Nîmes, France
Engraving from Antiquités de la France
Paris: P. Didot l'aîné 1804
88-B 2179

Charles-Louis Clérisseau
French, 1721–1820
Interior of the Temple of Diana at Nîmes, France
Engraving from Antiquités de la France
Paris: P. Didot l'aîné 1804
88-B2179

Joseph Michael Gandy
English, 1771–1843
The Persian Porch and the Place of Consultation of the Lacedemonians
Watercolor and gouache over pen and pencil, on paper, ca. 1816
910072*

Giovanni Montiroli
Italian, 1807–1879
Views of the Porta Maggiore and the Tomb of the Baker, Rome
Watercolor from Giuseppe De Fabris, Porta Gregoriana al Monumento dell'Acqua Claudia...
Rome: n.p., 1840
900013*

Giovanni Montiroli
Italian, 1807–1879
Finds from excavations in the area of the Tomb of the Baker, Rome
Watercolor from Giuseppe De Fabris, Porta Gregoriana al Monumento dell'Acqua Claudia...
Rome: n.p., 1840
900013*

Nicolas Béatrizet
French, active 1540–1565
The Colonna Sancta at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
Engraving from Speculum romanae magnificentiae
Rome: Antoine Lafréry et al., 1544(?)–1602
91-F104

Nicolas Béatrizet (?)
French, active 1540–1565
"Pasquino" sculpture in Rome
Engraving from Speculum romanae magnificentiae
Rome: Antoine Lafréry et al., 1544(?)–1602
91-F104

Martin Engelbrecht
German, 1684–1756
Perspective view of a city during an earthquake
Set of seven etchings, hand-colored, from Præsentation eines Erdbebens, late 1750s
96.R.39

Anonymous
Hellenicorama or Grecian Views
Cards used for practice of watercolor technique
Aquatint prints, hand-colored
London: J. Burgis, ca. 1800–1825
94.R.57

Alphonse Liebert
French, 1827–1914
Interior court of burned Hôtel de Ville, Paris
Albumen print, 1871
93.R.121*

Bruno Braquehais
French, 1823–1875
Ruins of Tuileries Palace, Paris
Albumen print, 1871
95.R.102

Bruno Braquehais
French, 1823–1875
Demolition of Vendôme Column, Paris
Albumen print, 1871
95.R.102

Various makers
Italian, 1807–1879
Disaster postcards, including scenes of destruction caused by the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco and the 1933 earthquake in Long Beach
89.R.46

Tivoli Opera House and other San Francisco buildings		"Greater than Ever, The New Frisco"
St. Francis Hotel and Congregational Church, San Francisco		Market Street and City Hall, San Francisco
Kearney Street looking south toward the Call Building and Palace Hotel, San Francisco		Huntington Park High School, Long Beach
Ruins of neoclassical pavilion		"Window Display of Statuary," Compton
Ruins of the Los Angeles Times Building, Los Angeles		"Making Sound Movies," Compton

Anne and Patrick Poirier
French, 1942–, 1942– Mnémosyne: Les archives de l'archéologue
Sycamore wood, stone, glass, paper, books, and mixed media, 1991
Courtesy Sonnabend Gallery, New York