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Inigo Jones

Inigo Jones was the first champion of Palladian style. As Surveyor General under James I, Jones was responsible for the construction of several early Palladian buildings, including Queens’ House, Greenwich. The Banqueting house at Whitehall is considered by many to be his greatest achievement.

Little is known about Jones’s early life. His father was a cloth worker and Inigo started working life as a joiners apprentice. He visited Italy to learn painting and design skills and during this time abroad he won the patronage of King Christian IV of Denmark.

In 1610 Jones was appointed surveyor of works to the heir to the throne. Within two years, Henry had died and little had been accomplished. Returning to Italy, Jones studied classical art and architecture and this hugely influenced the style of his work when he returned to Britain. Between 1615 and 1643 he was continuously involved in the building and improvement of royal houses.

His greatest achievement is considered to be the Banqueting House at Whitehall, dominated by a great chamber and raised on a vaulted basement. In 1653 Charles I commissioned an allegorical painting by Reubens to decorate the main ceiling panels.

As Civil War hit England, Inigo gave up his office and left London. He was eventually captured at the siege of Basing House, his estate sieged and he was heavily fined before being pardoned in Parliament the following year.

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