Isaac Ware: Designs of Inigo Jones and others
The book was first published in 1731, meaning the author was merely 27 years old. He was working together with other architects. Since his childhood, where he was adopted by an Earl, he had an immense talent for drawing. Luckily, he was able to live up to his potential thanks to his education, which included a Tour of Europe and the study of architecture.
The title of the book already gives you an idea of its contents. Inigo Jones (1573-1652) lived and worked quite some time before the author. He was the first English architect who used the Vitruvian Rules of proportion and symmetry in his buildings.
It is to be expected that a rather large portion of the book is about Inigo Jones’ work. If you investigate the book, you will find drawings only, except for a five-page long table of contents.
Considering the table of contents, the first part of the book seems to be about chimneys, mainly designed by Inigo Jones. The authors fascination for chimneys could be traced back to his early childhood before his adoption, where he was working as a chimney sweeper.
The motive of the chimney piece seems to reoccur as you go further along in the book.
Other than that, the author examines the plans and elevations of various rooms, gardens, and temples. There are illustrations of ceilings and sections of its moldings by Inigo Jones.
It is remarkable that besides Inigo Jones, no other architect is mentioned, neither in the table of contents nor in the actual pages. As expected, the focus of this book really lies on the works of Inigo Jones.