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The perspective scenery first used in Italy was brought to Britain by the British architect, Inigo Jones. Early in the 17th century Jones staged very elaborate entertainments called masques at the Royal courts of King James and Charles I. These masques used music, poetry and dance - but were most important for their perspective scenery. Jones copied Serlio in using flat painted angle wings to give the illusion of three-dimensional settings. In 1635 Jones presented a play - Florimène - to the court of Charles I at the Palace of Whitehall. Many of the orginal designs for this survive, and help us to understand the new type of stage used by Jones.

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