How Did Inigo Jones Influence Architecture

Inigo Jones was undoubtedly the bringer of successful classical and High Renaissance Italian architectural styles to England. He is often highly associated with Palladio and Vitruvius; so much so that the eighteenth century revivals of Palladio included design by Jones, and he has been given the title of "Vitruvius Britannicus". These associations though, severely simplify and limit Jones's personal expression. He was not simply a follower of classical Italianate styles; instead he adjusted, and ignored, Palladio and Vitruvius if it suited his vision, or if the current political landscape mandated it. So, I argue, that Inigo Jones's was not simply a follower of Palladio and Vitruvius but instead was more a Bramante like figure; a creator of …show more content…
One of Jones's most famous surviving works for James I is the Banqueting Palace at Whitehall Palace. This building was not only designed by Jones but also was created with the purpose to hold the masques that Inigo Jones had become famous for. So, he was in many ways the most qualified for the job because he was not only familiar with the architecture design needs, but also the practical needs of the building. The façade design of the Banqueting House features two elevations with a lower basement mezzanine level, and topped with a balustrade. Both levels have four center columns with pilasters the rest of the way to the corners; the lower level has segmental and triangular pediments; a design exceedingly common in the High Renaissance of which Raphael’s Palazzo Pandolfini is only one such example. The top level has flat topped windows and a frieze design with swags. There is a thin cornice line between elevations and the walls are lightly rusticated. This is generally a plain and unexciting design, with a similar feeling as the Palazzo Farnese by Antonio da Sangallo Jr. This idea of a flat, near undecorated, façade of two elevations with thin pilasters can also be seen in Palladio’s Palazzo Valmarana. The reason why this is so undecorated could be related to the ideas that the British pushed upon this classical type of architecture; one being that facades of buildings should not be overly decorated and instead be “masculine and unaffected.” Jones himself criticized those who thought that the exteriors of buildings should be extensively decorated, but he also believed in a lavish, joyful interior. So, the interior is much more exciting with two levels, with the top being a thin balcony level, which provides a wide open space for the masque