Constable: Walking the landscape

Constable: Walking the Landscape is the centrepiece exhibition of the year-long Constable 250 celebrations at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich's beautiful Tudor mansion set in Christchurch Park. Running from 11 July to 4 October 2026, it marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Suffolk's greatest painter, John Constable (1776–1837).

The headline moment is extraordinary: The Hay Wain (1821) leaves its permanent home at the National Gallery to visit Suffolk for the very first time in the painting's 205-year history. The work takes centre stage alongside loans from Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Academy, and the National Galleries of Scotland, many of which have never previously been seen in Suffolk. Among the significant loans is Dedham Vale (1828, National Galleries of Scotland), shown beside Christchurch Mansion's own Constable holdings, including the intimate pair of garden paintings from his childhood home.

What to expect

• The Hay Wain reunited with its preparatory sketches, held in the Ipswich collection
• Major landscape loans exploring Constable's deep emotional bond with the Suffolk countryside
• A broader countywide programme including talks, tours, and community workshops running throughout 2026

Good to know

• Tickets: Adults £10; children under 16 free; reduced rate £8
• Advance booking is recommended via the Ipswich Museums website
• The exhibition is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund