Inigo Jones
Inigo Jones was born on the 15th of July 1573 in Smithfield, London. His father worked as a clothworker and named him Inigo after his own name. No records from that time confirm any family ties to Wales despite later Welsh sources claiming he was originally named Ynir or Ynyr Jones. He did not follow the traditional path into architecture by rising through a craft guild. Christopher Wren later obtained information recording Jones as an apprentice joiner in St Paul's Churchyard before 1603. A rich patron possibly the Earl of Pembroke sent him to Italy to study drawing after seeing his sketches. From Italy he travelled to Denmark where he worked for Christian IV on designing palaces at Rosenborg and Frederiksborg.
Jones first became famous as a designer of costumes and stage settings after bringing masques to the English stage. Under Queen Anne of Denmark he introduced movable scenery and the proscenium arch to English theatre. Between 1605 and 1640 he staged over 500 performances while collaborating with Ben Jonson for many years. Their relationship became fraught with competition and jealousy as they argued about whether design or literature mattered more. Jonson ridiculed Jones in works written over two decades including The Staple of News and Love's Welcome at Bolsover. Jones stated that masques were nothing but pictures with light and motion making little note of spoken words. Over 450 drawings for scenery and costumes survive showing his development from no knowledge of Renaissance draughtsmanship to an accomplished Italianate manner by 1609.
In September 1615 Jones was appointed Surveyor-General of the King's Works marking the start of his serious architectural career. Work began on the Queen's House in Greenwich in 1616 for James I's wife Anne. Foundations were laid and the first storey built before work stopped suddenly when Anne died in 1619. Work resumed in 1629 for Charles I's Queen Henrietta Maria and finished in 1635 as the first strictly classical building in England. It employed ideas found in Palladio and ancient Rome. Between 1619 and 1622 the Banqueting House in Whitehall was built using designs derived from Scamozzi and Palladio. A ceiling painted by Peter Paul Rubens was added several years later. These buildings show a mature architect with a confident grasp of classical principles.
Jones designed Covent Garden Square commissioned by the Earl of Bedford to build a residential square along lines of Livorno. It became the first regularly planned square in London. The Earl warned Jones he wanted to economise and told him to simply erect a barn. Jones responded that his lordship would have the finest barn in Europe. St Paul's church within the square faithfully adhered to Vitruvius's design for a Tuscan temple. It was the first wholly and authentically classical church built in England. The inside was gutted by fire in 1795 but externally it remains much as Jones designed it. He also designed Lincoln's Inn Fields where Lindsey House built in 1640 is often attributed to him. Its rusticated ground floor served as a model for other town houses like John Nash's Regent's Park terraces.
On the 16th of February 1621 Jones was elected Member of Parliament for New Shoreham in West Sussex. He sat until the parliament dissolved in February 1622. He served on a committee to improve lighting and increase seating in the House of Commons chamber. A new gallery was erected in St Stephen's Chapel during the summer recess. He also served as Justice of the Peace from 1630 until at least 1640. His full-time career effectively ended with the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642. Jones was captured at the third siege of Basing House in October 1645. The great mansion inside was destroyed by Cromwell's army and walls broken into many pieces. His property returned around 1646 but he died unmarried living in Somerset House on the 21st of June 1652.
More than one thousand buildings have been attributed to Jones though only a very small number are certain to be his work. Architecture historian John Summerson noted that the modern concept of an architect's artistic responsibility did not exist then. Jones's role may have been that of a civil servant getting things done rather than designing everything himself. Projects were often commissioned to other members of the Works when Jones was too busy. Stoke Bruerne Park was built by Sir Francis Crane receiving assistance from Jones between 1629 and 1635. Wilton House was renovated from about 1630 onwards worked on by Jones before passing to Isaac de Caus. He returned in 1646 with student John Webb to try completing it. Jones influenced 18th-century architects like Lord Burlington and William Kent. A bridge in Llanrwst named Pont Fawr is known locally as Pont Inigo Jones.
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Common questions
When and where was Inigo Jones born?
Inigo Jones was born on the 15th of July 1573 in Smithfield, London. His father worked as a clothworker and named him Inigo after his own name.
What architectural projects did Inigo Jones design for Queen Anne of Denmark?
Work began on the Queen's House in Greenwich in 1616 for James I's wife Anne. Foundations were laid and the first storey built before work stopped suddenly when Anne died in 1619.
How many performances did Inigo Jones stage between 1605 and 1640?
Between 1605 and 1640 he staged over 500 performances while collaborating with Ben Jonson for many years. Over 450 drawings for scenery and costumes survive showing his development from no knowledge of Renaissance draughtsmanship to an accomplished Italianate manner by 1609.
Which building became the first strictly classical structure in England designed by Inigo Jones?
The Queen's House in Greenwich finished in 1635 as the first strictly classical building in England. It employed ideas found in Palladio and ancient Rome.
When was Inigo Jones elected Member of Parliament for New Shoreham?
On the 16th of February 1621 Jones was elected Member of Parliament for New Shoreham in West Sussex. He sat until the parliament dissolved in February 1622.
Where and when did Inigo Jones die?
Jones died unmarried living in Somerset House on the 21st of June 1652. His property returned around 1646 but he died after being captured at the third siege of Basing House in October 1645.