A Plumed Saddle-Horse

Attributed to Inigo Jones, ca. 1640

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Artist: Inigo Jones (British, 1573–1652)
Medium: Pen and brown ink on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper
Size: Sheet: 5 5/8 x 5 inches (14.3 x 12.7 cm)
Museum: Yale Center for British Art
Rights: CC0 — no rights reserved

From 1622 masques were held each year in Jones's Banqueting House until the Rubens ceiling paintings were installed in 1635. It quickly became apparent that the smoke from the torches that illuminated the masques was damaging Rubens's paintings, and a wooden structure was erected nearby to accommodate the annual performances.

This drawing of a plumed horse probably relates to Jones's designs for the last masque performed at Whitehall: Salmacida Spolia (The Spoils of Salamis) written by Sir William Davenant for the year 1640. The visions of peace and plenty celebrated in the masque rang hollow when measured against actual events. The king's eleven years of rule without Parliament were at an end, and the rebellion of the Scottish Covenanters left Charles at war with his own subjects.

Text: Yale Center for British Art.