Inigo Jones, Royal Palace, Whitehall design, engraved c1727.

by Jones, Inigo

Section of the King's Apartments. Circular Court frontage of the Royal Palace in Whitehall. The main London royal residence from 1530 to 1698, the palace with over 1,500 rooms was the largest in Europe. (Except for the Banqueting House, it was destroyed in the great fire of London in 1698.)

Original rare copperplate engraving by Dutch engraver, Henrik Hulsbergh (fl.1709-1729), after a drawing by Henry Flitcroft of Inigo Jones architecture. Inigo Jones (1573-1652), is considered the 'father of classical English architecture'. Greatly inspired by Palladian architecture in Italy, Inigo Jones was the first to introduce classical Italian Renaissance architecture to Gothic Britain. He believed strict mathematical proportion should control plan, elevation and all structure.

Henry Flitcroft (1697-1769), was the son of a labourer in the employ of William III at Hampton Court Palace. Henry was apprenticed to a joiner and worked as a carpenter at Burlington House - until he fell from a scaffold, broke his leg, and came to the attention of Lord Burlington who became his patron and managed his training as an architect. Master Carpenter between 1746 and 1748, 'Burlington Harry' became Deputy Surveyer. He succeeded Thomas Ripley as Comptroller of the Works and lived in the former Master Mason's House.

In fine condition, with shadow (not soiling) along the fold of this double page, later hand-colour accentuates the detail of this grand architectural design. (The picture does not do this image justice.
The page measures 505 x 665 mm (19.7/8 x 26.1/4 inches). To plate-mark measures 250 x 500mm (9.7/8 x 19.3/4 inches).