The Designs Of Inigo Jones, Consisting of Plans and Elevations For Publick and Private Buildings. Published by William Kent, With some Additional Designs. The First Volume. (Second Volume.)

Vol. I: [16] p., frontis., 73 [i.e. 51] pl. (12 dble. or fold.). The double plates, though printed from one copper, are assigned two numbers. These are: pl. 1/2, 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: [8] p., 63 [i.e. 46] pl. (17 dble). 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.

Prepared by Kent and funded by Lord Burlington, this celebration of the work of Inigo Jones was intended to keep Palladianism in the eye of the British public. The designs are in fact as much by John Webb as by Jones (as Kent acknowledges in his 'Advertisement'); and the designs for Whitehall Palace have been put together from many isolated drawings ('nor', declared Horace Walpole, 'could such a source of invention and taste as the mind of Inigo ever produce so much sameness'). Kent takes the opportunity to associate a few of his own designs with those of the better-known Palladians (just as in 1726 Leoni had associated his own designs with those of Alberti).

In Volume I most plates show plans, elevations, sections and details of Whitehall palace; some include designs by Jones or Webb for windows, doors and furnishings. These are supplemented by a few designs by Burlington (pl. 59, rustic gates; 70-73, Chiswick House) and by Kent (pl. 63-65, chimneypieces; 67-69, room interiors 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). A few designs by Burlington are included (pl. 10-12, house designs; 51-53, the dormitory of Westminster School); and Jones's design for the west of St. Paul's is juxtaposed with Palladio's designs for San Giorgio, Venice (57-63, plan, elevation and sections). The title-page vignette (repeated in both volumes) incorporates a portrait of Jones.