Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 3.djvu/412

398 only architecture. The change to the classical was destined to be made by Inigo Jones, who stands the great name of this period. Jones had studied in Italy, and became aware of the graceful style which Vitruvius had introduced by modulation of the ancient Greek and Roman, and which Palladio had raised to perfection.



The great merit of Jones is that be imported Palladio's style substantially and completely, ready as it was to his hands, and wholly unknown in this country.



By this means Jones acquired a reputation for genius which nothing that he has left justifies his claim to. He was first engaged in designing the scenery and machinery of the masques which Ben Jonson wrote for the queen of James I, He was appointed architect to the queen and prince Henry. On the death of the prince he returned to Italy, and on his return he was appointed surveyor-general of the royal buildings. The first thing which he planned was the design for an immense palace for James on the site of Whitehall. There is a simple grandeur in the drawings of it which are left, which may fairly entitle him to a reputation for the introduction of an elegant domestic architecture, but does not warrant the extravagant terms of eulogy as a gigantic genius, which have been lavished on him.



The only portion of this palace which was built is the present banqueting House at Whitehall, being the termination of the great facade, and which certainly contains nothing very