Inigo Jones: Court Masques Of England

Little is known or confirmed about the early life of Inigo Jones. Undoubtedly though, it was a humble life. Inigo Jones was born in Smithfield, London on July 15th, 1573. Four days later he was baptized at the church of St Bartholomew’s Hospital and named after his father. Inigo senior originally hailed from North Wales, later moving to London to continue his work as a cloth worker. There is no existing information on Inigo Jones’ mother but historians presume her name was Millicent. In the sixteenth century it was common for the first borns of each gender to be named for the respective parent. Millicent Jones was Inigo Jones junior’s elder sister. She died at a year old from unknown causes. Inigo junior had six other siblings, three of whom
As previously mentioned in this essay, Jones was first commissioned by Anne of Denmark to work on a masque, The Masque of Blackness. Masques were private entertainments presented at the courts of James I and Charles I. These entertainments of spoken poetry, music, and dance were portrayed with England’s most lavish and extraordinary theatrical effects to date. Inigo Jones almost always created the costumes, sceneries, and effects for the court masques of England. When Anne of Denmark commissioned Jones for The Masque of Blackness, medieval scenic practices were still in use. While pageant wagons and hellmouths were occasionally used for medieval theatre they mostly relied on spoken decorum. Inigo Jones, however, was fresh from his inspirations of not only Italian architecture but technical theatre as well. To England Jones introduced temporary proscenium arches, painted perspective scenic designs, and a system for scene changes. To change scenes, Inigo installed a series of shutters that could slide in and out on grooves built into the floor. Jones eventually introduced flying scenery from above and the use of tinted glass in front of candles to created colored lighting. There was no longer a need for actors to state where they were, audiences could see in full glory the setting of a masque or play. Inigo Jones is considered the first theatre designer in England; with his work at the royal
Thus when the English Civil War broke out in 1642 Jones’ career essentially met it’s end. Relinquishing his office as The King’s Surveyor, Jones fled to Oxford to reside with King Charles I. In his absence Jones appointed his pupil John Webb as Deputy Surveyor. John Webb stayed in London of his own accord working as a spy for the king. At the siege of the Basing House in 1645 Jones was captured with many other Royalists. Inigo Jones’ estate was confiscated and he was heavily fined for 1,000 pounds. A year later in 1646 the House of Lords pardoned him and restored his estate in his name. At the time of Charles I’s execution Jones was working on the great double-cube room at Wilton commissioned by the Earl of Pembroke. The state rooms created by Jones and Webb are considered to be some of England’s most lavish. It is presumed John Webb mostly did the work on the Wilton House. Inigo Jones died on June 21, 1652. The architect was buried with his parents at St Benet Paul’s Wharf, the Welsh church of the City of London. Having remained unmarried throughout his life, Inigo Jones bequeathed his fortune and library of drawings and designs to John Webb. Jones’ nephew and pupil ever inspired continued on as an architect. With the restoration of monarchy to the throne, John Denham and then Christpoher Wren followed Inigo Jones appointment as The King’s Surveyor. A monument was created for Inigo