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Jones, Inigo, 1573-1652; Charleton, Walter, 1619-1707; Webb, John, 1611-1672 / The most notable antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stone-Heng, on Salisbury Plain, restored, by Inigo Jones ... To which are added, the Chorea gigantum, or Stone-Heng restored to the Danes, by Doctor Charleton; and Mr. Webb’s Vindication of Stone-Heng restored, in answer to Dr. Charleton’s reflections; with observations upon the orders and rules of architecture in use among the ancient Romans. Before the whole are prefixed, certain memoirs relating to the life of Inigo Jones; with his effigies, engrav’d by Hollar; as also Dr. Charleton’s, by P. Lombart; and four new views of Stone-Heng, in its present situation: with above twenty other copper-plates, and a compleat index to the entire collection
(1725)
Memoirs relating to the life and writings of Inigo Jones, esq.
MEMOIRS of the LIFE of
great Patron of all liberal Sciences, ,~lliam Earl of Pem-
broke. At his Expence he travell'd over Italy, and the
polter Parts of Europe5 faw whatever flood recommend-
ed by its Antiquity or Value,, and from thefe Plans form'd
his own Obfervations, which upon his Return Home he
perfe&ed by Study and Application: And by thefe De-
grees he rofe-to fuch an Eminence in the Knowledge of
Archite&ure, that he was defervedly efteemed the Iitru-
vi ',of his Age nd Countrey. We have a fine Inter-
mixture of Fancy and judgment, in his Decorations of
Dramatick Entertainments, and the pompous Machinery
of Mafques and Interludes. Thefe were then the fafhiona-
ble Diverfions of the Court, and were diawn up by the
greatefi Mailers. Several Reprefentations of this nature
are flill exarnt by Ben. _7ohnon, Si W//kam Davenant,
and the mofi eminent Poetick Writers of that Age. The
Subjea was fet down by the Poet, but the Invention, Or-
nament, Scenes, rc. were the Contrivance of Mr. inigo
Jones5 and for thefe he received a very confiderable En-
couragement from the Court.
His Capacity and Exa&nefs foon rais'd him to the good
Efeem of, King James I. who promoted him to be Sur-'
veyor General of His Majefly's Works. He was ho
noured with the fame Employment by the Qjceen, Prince
Henry, Cbriflianus IV. King of Denmark, and upon
King James's Demife, by his Succeffor King Chares I.
'Twas during this Interval, he form'd that mofl noble
Stru&ure, call'd the Ban quetmng-Houfe, at White-Hall,
which was at firft defign'd for the Reception of foreign
Embaffadors. The Ceiling was fome Years after adorn'd
by the Pencil of Sir Peter-Paul Rubens, with the Felici-
ties of King James's Reign3 and Draughts of thefe have
been fince taken, and lately publifh'd by Sim. Gribelin,
the Engraver. To him we owe the re-building of So-
merfet-Houfe in the Strand, and the flately Piazza of
Covent-Garden. In this lait Performance, our Architea
had in View the Piazza of Leghorn, but has vaftly fur-
pafs'd the Original, by the Beauty and Largenefs of his
Pillars. But- 'is not in our Power to defcribe the Number
or form a Judgment upon the Excellence of his Defigns.
This is an Employment deferving the Care of thofe noble
.erfons,
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