INIGO JONES (1573 - 1652)

Inigo Jones is one of the most important artists of the 17th century. He is credited with bringing Classicism to England, establishing a purity of style that was to influence architects for decades. A painter, collector and masque-designer, he was an important figure in the English court.

Not much is documented about Jones' early life although it is generally understood that visits to Italy in his younger years provided the inspiration for all of his later work. As a skilled painter, he attracted the attention of Christian IV of Denmark, whose sister Anne was queen to James I of England. This connection was to provide his early employment by the Queen as a designer of the sets and costumes for the Stuart masques. His importance to the theatre rests in part with his introduction to moving scenery and the proscenium arch, not a part of the Elizabethan stage. Although not good friends, he worked often with the playwright Ben Jonson, who wrote the words for many of the masques. Spectacle was the order of the day, with a great deal of fantastic architecture and moving lights (affected by flickering torches). Jones' work on the masques was to continue under the reign of Charles I.

It was during his travels back to Italy around 1614 that Jones became enamored of antique buildings as reconstructed under the guidance of Andrea Palladio. As the surveyor to James I (and later Charles I), he began his career as an architect. During this time he designed and built such magnificent buildings as the Queen's House at Greenwich and the Banqueting House, using the influence of Palladio and even that of Vitruvius. His idea of unity in proportion, the notion that all aspects of a building should should be equally proportionate was strongly put to use. Jones also designed St. Paul's in 1631, employing all of the classical elements of architecture. Unfortunately this one of of many buildings destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Jones was the strongest influence on the great architect Sir Chrisopher Wren, who was to take the use of classical elements in architecture to new heights. As well, his personal assistant from 1628 on was the architect John Webb, with whom he designed the double-cube room at Wilton House.