Inigo Jones Architecture

Inigo Jones (15 July 1573 – 21 June 1652) often called the first English Architect and one of the most important English Renaissance architects. Jones appears in the architectural landscape to change the British style and design becoming therefore, the architect responsible for introducing the classical architecture of Rome and the Italian Renaissance to Britain. Broadly conceived, it can be said that this self-taught son of a Smithfield (a cloth maker), had an enormous impact on British art and architecture.

His approach to the architectural profession was not in the traditional way, there is not much known about his early life or education. However, there is an important event in his life that changed his lifetime. This is

´For Inigo Jones, this project was a crucial opportunity to demonstrate ‘his concept, totally new in England, of a monumental and ordered architecture based on antiquity and the Italian Renaissance, in the most sensitive context, and harness them to the expression of the grandeur of his monarch.´1 ´John Summerson has observed, for example, that the Banqueting House interior owes much to Palladio’s interpretation of a Vitruvian basilica, which had classical associations with the administration of justice (one of the functions of the king) as well as obvious later associations with Christianity; whilst the exterior is partly based on a Palladio study for a town

These principles were the importance of the mathematical proportions rather than the ornamental decoration. Functionality is an important factor without disregarding harmonic proportions and elegance based on simplicity. However, Jones style pursued the aesthetic of the facade without applying the mathematical proportions for the layout of the rooms. It is important to underline his innovative ceiling designs (always following Palladian models) and plasterworks. Jones's first ceilings were examples of what became a new style realized in three dimensions (see Banqueting House ceiling Picture).

It is important to underline his innovative ceiling designs (always following Palladian models) and plasterworks. Jones's first ceilings were examples of what became a new style realized in three dimensions (see Banqueting House ceiling image).

We can conclude that the reason for the importance of the Banqueting House lies in the fact that marked a break with contemporary fashions.

Being functionality one of his rules, today's designers would definitely apply a code like this and follow Jones´s style. Not to forget that design is the expression of a definite purpose following canons and rules of functionality and aesthetics or beauty. Meaning this that Inigo Jones was a laudable designer and we have to be proud of his bequest, which supposed a great contribution to art, design