Inigo Jones

Born in 1573, Inigo Jones became one of the most influential figures in English architecture. He is widely known for introducing a more rigorous classical style to England, drawing on the proportions and symmetry he studied from ancient Roman and Italian Renaissance design.

Jones worked for the Stuart court and designed both buildings and elaborate court masques. His best-known works include the Queen’s House at Greenwich and the Banqueting House in Whitehall, both landmarks in the history of British architecture. His stage and costume designs also show how wide-ranging his imagination was.

Although some of his grander plans were never completed, his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime. By the time of his death in 1652, he had helped set a new direction for architecture in Britain, and his work continued to shape later generations of architects.