The Designs Of Inigo Jones, Consisting Of Plans and Elevations For Public and Private Buildings. Published By William Kent, With Some Additional Designs. Volume I. (II.)
RA Collection: Book
Record number
03/2613
Variant Title
Desseins Du Celebre Inigo Jones
Imprint
London:: Printed For Benjamin White, At Horace's Head, Fleet-Street., MDCCLXX.
Physical Description
2 vols. in one; 535mm. (Broadsheet).
General Note
Vol. I: [16] p., frontis., [52] leaves carrying pl. numbered 1, 1-73 (13 dble. or fold.). The double plates, though printed from one copper, are assigned two numbers. These are: pl. 1bis/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 14/15, 16/17, 20/21, 22/23, 28/29, 30/31.32/33, 34/35, 36/37, 40/41, 42/43, 46/47. Of these double plates the following are pasted together to form one large sheet: pl. 7/8 with 9/10, 14/15 with 16/17, 20/21 with 22/23, 28/29 with 30/31, 40/41 with 42/43. - Vol. II: [16] p., [47] leaves carrying pl. numbered 1-65 (18 dble, 1 dble and fold.). Again, the double plates are assigned two plate-numbers, viz. pl. 2/3, 25/6, 28/9, 31/2, 33/4, 35/6, 37/8, 39/40, 41/2, 44/5, 47/8, 49/50, 52/3, 55/6, 57/8, 60/1, 62/3; while pl. 64/5 consists of two plates pasted together.
Contents
Vol. I: [Frontis., English t.p.] - A Table of the Plates contained in the First Volume [listing pl. 1-73] - [French t.p.] - Table des Planches ... - [Plates]. - Vol. II: [English t.p.] - A Table of the Plates [1-64] - [French t.p.] - Table des Planches ... - [Plates].
Responsibility Note
In Volume I the frontispiece is signed as designed by W. Kent and engraved by B. Baron. Plate 1 is signed by the engraver only, P. Fourdrinier. Almost all other plates (1bis to 70) are signed as by I. Iones Architect, drawn by H. Flitcroft, with the exception of pl. 49, which is signed as by I. Iones Architect and drawn by W. Kent; pl. 71, 73 are signed as by Burlington Architect, pl. 72 as by Burlington Architect, drawn by W. Kent. All are signed by their engravers (H. Hulsbergh, P. Fourdrinier, I. Cole, Herisset).
In Volume II all plates are signed as drawn by H. Flitcroft, apart from pl. 64/5, which is by Schwerdfeyer; most name the architect as I. Iones, but pl. 10-12 and 51-56 name Burlington, pl. 57-63 name A. Palladio, and pl. 64/5 names H. Flitcroft. All are signed by their engravers (H. Hulsbergh, I. Cole, P. Fourdrinier).
In both volumes the title-page vignettes (incorporating a portrait of Jones) are unsigned; most head- and tail-pieces are signed as drawn by W.Kent and engraved by P.Fourdrinier.
References
RIBA, Early printed books, 2 (1995), no. 1625; E. Harris and N. Savage, British Architectural Books (1990), 386; J. Archer, Literature of British domestic architecture (1985), 166.2; Johns Hopkins University, The Fowler Architectural Collection (1961), no. 162, p.133 [on 1727 ed.].
A. Cerrutti-Fusco, Inigo Jones, Vitruvius Britannicus: Jones e Palladio nella cultura architettonica inglese, 1600-1740 (1985); J. Harris and G. Higgott, Inigo Jones: complete architectural drawings [exhibition catalogue] (1989). A study of British Palladianism was J. Harris, The Palladian Revival: Lord Burlington, his villa and garden at Chiswick [Royal Academy exhibition catalogue] (1994).
ESTC, T116215
Summary Note
The title on the French title-page reads, 'Les Desseins Du Celebre Inigo Jones, Consistant En Plans Et Elevations, Pour Des Edifices Publics et des Batimens Particuliers. Publiés Par Guillaume Kent, Augmentés De Quelques Desseins D'Autres Maitres. Tome I. (II.)'.
The work was first published in 1727.
Just as Leoni had in 1726 included his own designs in his translation of Alberti's Dieci libri, so here Kent associates his own designs with those of the British Palladians, Inigo Jones and Lord Burlington, and with Palladio himself.
In Volume I most plates show plans, elevations, sections and details of Whitehall palace; some include designs by Jones for windows, doors and furnishings. Some plates show designs by Burlington (pl. 59, rustic gates; 70-73, Chiswick House). Some show designs by Kent (pl. 63-65, chimneypieces; 67-69, room iteriors and a ceiling). In Volume II 47 plates show designs attributed to Jones, ranging from a small country-house (pl.1) to a palace (pl. 37-43), and a plan and elevation of his portico for old St. Paul's (pl. 54-56). Some show designs by Burlington (pl. 10-12, house designs; 51-53, the dormitory of Westminster School). Some show designs by Palladio (57-63, plan, elevation and sections of S. Giorgio, Venice).
Provenance
Purchased by 1780. Recorded in A Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).
Binding Note
18th-century mottled calf, royal arms of Britain and 'R.A.' gilt-stamped on upper cover; rebacked in 20th century, brown morocco spine label lettered 'Designs Of Inigo Jones', spine lettered 'R.A.'
Architecture, British - Public buildings - Palaces - Houses - Great Britain - History - 17th century - 18th century - Palladian
Plans - Elevations - Great Britain - 17th century - 18th century
Pictorial works - Armorial bindings - Great Britain - 18th century