Jones, INIGO, an English architect, was the son of a cloth-worker, and was born in London 15th July 1573. A nobleman sent him to Italy to study landscape-painting, but he was drawn to study architecture instead. While in Venice he paid particular attention to the works of Palladio, whose style he introduced into England, whence he is sometimes called the 'English Palladio.' On leaving Italy he went to Denmark by invitation of Christian IV., and there he is said by some to have designed the royal palaces of Rosenborg and Frederiksborg. Returning to England in 1604, he was employed by James I. in arranging the scenery, &c. for the masques of Ben Jonson, which were at that time the chief amusement of the court. Jonson afterwards satirised his fellow-labourer in Bartholomew Fair. In 1612 Jones revisited Italy, still further to improve his style, and on his return to England was appointed surveyor-general of the royal buildings. He was at this time accounted the first architect of England, and, according to some, the first of the age. He died 21st June 1652. His masterpiece is considered to be the Banqueting House (now the Chapel Royal) at Whitehall. Another representative specimen of his work is the church of St Paul, in Covent Garden, London.
See Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting (Dallaway's ed. 1828) for the buildings designed by him; his Life by Peter Cunningham (1848); Fergusson's History of Architecture; and W. J. Loftie, Inigo Jones and Wren (1893).