The Suffolk painter’s masterpiece Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows 1831 is currently on display in the Mansion’s Wolsey Art Gallery and helped to attract nearly 1,400 visitors during half-term week. Overall, the visitors to the Mansion were 2,386.
Museums chiefs also welcomed the fact that nearly half of them were youngsters, taking part in general visits to the Mansion or “Meeting John Constable” workshops.
Over in High Street, visitors to the Museum reached a whopping 4,600 over five days and the 1,000 mark was broken on three successive days.
Councillor Bryony Rudkin, Culture & Leisure portfolio-holder for Ipswich Borough Council, said: “These are very encouraging attendance figures and shows that the Constable exhibition is attracting people to the Mansion. Our workshops at both museums are helping us to reach out to a younger audience and help them learn about Ipswich’s fantastic heritage and art collection.”
The “Great Salisbury” painting complements the most significant collection of Constables outside London and is at the Mansion until early next year. The display is part of Aspire, a partnership programme enabling audiences of all ages to enjoy and learn more about Constable’s work. Aspire is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund.
