The Elevation of the Queens House to the Park at Greenwich Invented by Inigo Jones 1639

Print showing the south elevation of the Queen's House towards the Park (built 1616-circa 1638). This formed Plate 15 of Colen Campbell's seminal architectural publication 'Vitruvius Britannicus' (vol. 1, 1715). The continuation of the title inscription dedicates the plate to 'the Honble George Clarke Esqr. One of the Lords of the Admiralty' and is followed by a translation in French. A scale of 60 feet is included above the title with a note of the full width of the House as 115 feet.

Except for the six classical statues along the roof parapet (which if ever there are not otherwise recorded), and the fact that the windows are shown as blanks, the elevation is otherwise as the House exists today. The six statues, left to right, show: (1) a male figure holding what looks like a sling; (2) a female robed figure; (3) a female robed figure (possibly Plenty); (4) a female robed figure (perhaps Venus) holding an apple; (5) a female robed figure; (6) a male warrior (that may be Mars).

'Vitruvius Britannicus' also includes floor plans of the House, most easily seen with this elevation, in John Bold, 'Greenwich; an architectural history ... (Yale UP; London, 2000) plate 54, p.36. [PAH3293 is another copy of the elevation].

Object Details

ID: PAH3292
Collection: Fine art
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Campbell, Colen
Places: Unlinked place
Date made: early 18th century; 1715
Exhibition: Unseen: The Lives of Looking by Dryden Goodwin
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Primary support: 270 mm x 401 mm; Mount: 484 x 633 mm