Inigo Jones
The Creator of Italian Renaissance Architecture in England
Biography
-Born on July 15, 1573 in London, England
-1596/1597 Traveled throughout Europe
-Traveled to Italy
-Became inspired by Andrea Palladio's architecture
-Inspired by Sebastiano Serlio's works
-He is first recorded in 1603 as a picture-maker
-1606 His first architectural design
-1609 Traveled to France
-1610 Pronounced the surveyor to Henry, Prince of Wales
-Possible work on alterations at St. James Palace
-Death of Prince Henry
-1612 Jones met the duke of Arundel
-1613/1614 Traveled throughout Italy with the duke of Arundel to learn more about architecture
-Jones assumed a professional education of Palladio's work and theories
-Jones recieved his first drawings by Palladio
-1615 He was appointed the surveyor of the King James the First's works
-He began designing and producing court masques
-1625 King James died
-Continued to being the surveyor to King Charles I
-1643 Dismissed as surveyor
-Died on June 21, 1652 in London, England
Summary of His Life
-Inigo Jones was an English architect
-He brought Italian Renaissance architecture to England
-He spent most of his life in London, England and Venice, Italy
-Patron to Prince Henry of Wales, the Duke of Arundel, King James I, King Charles I, and
-Jones was inspired by and professionally studied Andrea Palladio's architecture and theories
-On top of architectural achievements, Jones designed and produced court masques
Some of His Works
-The Queen's House at Greenwich (1616–1635)
-The Queen's Chapel, Marlborough Gate, at St. James's Palace (1617–1618)
-The Banqueting House, Whitehall (1619–1622).
-The repair of St. Paul's Cathedral, London (1618)
-The square and houses he built for the Earl of Bedford, Covent Garden (1640)
-The double-cube and single-cube rooms at Wilton House (1642)
Patronage
-In 1610 Inigo Jones was pronounced the surveyor of Prince Henry of Wales' works.
-In 1612 he met the Duke of Arundel who was an important patron and collector of art. Arundel became his patron, and went to Italy with Inigo to help Inigo learn more about Italian Renaissance architecture and help him reach his full potential.
-In 1615 he became the surveyor of works for King James I, who became his patron. Through King James he was able to build numerous small but important feats of architecture.
-In 1625 he became the surveyor to King Charles I in England, who was the predecessor to King James I. However, King Charles' political difficulties affected Inigo Jones, costing him his job. King Charles I was Jones' last patron.
What Makes Him a Renaissance Man
Inigo Jones is a Renaissance man because he exhibits humanism within his work. Inspired by the Italian Renaissance style, Jones includes Roman pillars within most of his works, happy to include the inventions of classical cultures to add to the buildings he creates.
Also, Jones is a Renaissance man because he exhibits a thorough understanding of individualism. He cared for himself when he pursued what he wanted to be and when he personally sought the education to make that possible. Inigo Jones was able to find his place within himself and his society by fulfilling what he loved and what he wanted to become.
The Banqueting House
The Work Information
-Made from 1619-1622
-Located in the Whitehall Palace, London, England
-Made out of Portland stone, limestone, masonry
The Work Summary
The Banqueting House, located at Whitehall Palace, is an exquisite work of architecture that still stands in London today. It is distinguished in its appearance among other buildings in England today and features Inigo Jones' skill precisely. It is an imposing building that shows off its beautiful Renaissance style and craftsmanship. It is significant because it demonstrates the entirety of the brilliance in Inigo Jones' architectural design and also his deliverance of the design. It also highlights the specific elements of Renaissance architecture for any who want to learn from it.
What Makes The Work a Renaissance Work
The Banqueting House is considered a piece of Renaissance architecture because:
-it is symmetrical
-it has repeating modules
-it has Roman columns
-it is very detailed
-it has detailed moldings
The Banqueting House also exhibited the Renaissance 'ism' of humanism. This is seen in bringing back the detailed columns from the Romans, which is a key player in the topic of humanism, which included the study of classical culture.
In My Opinion
I find this piece of architecture interesting because it is a clear example of what Renaissance architecture looks like. On top of pertaining to the styles of its own time period, it also includes columns reminiscent of the Romans, giving the building a timeless look. Its detailing between and around the windows and the engravings in the moldings are absolutely gorgeous in their look and precision. The repetition of patterns on the building adds an extra amount of sophistication and class to the visual appeal of the building, and the condition that it remains in after all the years since it was built testifies to the quality of the work put into its building and design.
Citations
Banqueting House Inigo Jones. 1622. Photograph. London, England. ARTstor Library. By Alec and Marlene Hartill. 2013 ARTstor, Inc. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
CAST, DAVID. "Inigo Jones." Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World Ed. Jonathan Dewald. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2004. Biography in Context. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
"Inigo Jones." Almanac of Famous People. Gale, 2011. Biography in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
"Inigo Jones." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.