Sculpture & Works of Art

A Rare Sculpture of Inigo Jones

22 April 2026

Douglas Girton

A striking carved stone figure of the architect Inigo Jones (1573–1652), offered in our upcoming Five Centuries sale, takes its inspiration from a model attributed to John Michael Rysbrack (1694–1770), originally created for Chiswick House, London.

That celebrated figure, carved in Portland stone, was commissioned by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, alongside a companion statue of Andrea Palladio. Together, they flanked the entrance portico, first at Burlington House until 1729, and later at the newly completed villa at Chiswick.

While busts of Inigo Jones based on this model exist in relatively good number, including the original marble example at Chatsworth House, full-length versions are far less common. Another notable example, also derived from the Chiswick model, can be found in the gardens of Holker Hall, Cumbria. It was installed there by William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, during extensive improvements to the estate in the 1830s and 1840s.

The attribution of the original model to Rysbrack has been accepted since the early 20th century, though an alternative attribution to Giovanni-Battista Guelfi has occasionally been proposed. Guelfi is known to have produced busts of both Jones and Palladio for Burlington, adding an additional layer of intrigue to the sculpture’s origins.

Illustrated below centre: A portrait of Inigo Jones by William Hogarth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Five Centuries

Explore our May 2026 Five Centuries auction online now.

The Gowan Connection

The identity of the sculptor “Gowan,” whose name appears on an example in our May 2026 Five Centuries auction, remains somewhat uncertain. It may relate to a family of stone masons active in Edinburgh during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A likely candidate is Alexander Gowan (d. 1803), recorded in A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660 - 1851.

According to a 19th-century account, Alexander Gowan spent time in the studio of Louis François Roubiliac before establishing himself as a marble cutter at Abbey Hill, Edinburgh, by 1780. He later entered into partnership with James Gowan in 1784, with his sons Charles and William joining the business in 1793. By around 1800, the Abbey Hill yard was noted as the only studio in Edinburgh where marble was cut.

Gowan died in Edinburgh on 30 March 1803. A decorated memorial tablet at Inveresk, signed “Gowan,” is thought to be his work.

The family’s continued activity is evidenced by a record from December 1808, when W. and C. Gowan supplied “a new chimney piece of statuary marble” to Gilmerton House, East Lothian.

Early 19th Century

A Lifesized Carved Stone Figure of Inigo Jones

This early 19th-century, life-sized carved stone figure of Inigo Jones is rendered with flowing drapery, leaning against a tablet. The square, canted base bears the inscription: “INIGO JONES, O.B. July 16..(lacking)..Et. 80” The reverse is signed “GOWAN Sculp.”

Measuring 188cm high, the sculpture is an imposing and rare interpretation of a well-known architectural icon, reflecting both the enduring influence of the Chiswick model and the craftsmanship of early 19th-century Scottish stone carving.

Specialist

Douglas Girton

Head of Fine Furniture & Works of Art