Ipswich Borough Council will open the first of three major Constable 250 exhibitions at Christchurch Mansion on 28 March, launching a landmark year celebrating the 250th anniversary of Suffolk born artist John Constable and his legacy.
Constable: A Cast of Characters, which runs until 14 June, brings together over 100 artworks and personal objects that reveal the family and early supporters to patrons, mentors, and friends, who shaped John Constable’s life, artistic development and career. These pieces offer intimate insight into the artist’s life behind the canvas. Many items are being displayed together for the first time. Pieces drawn from the Colchester + Ipswich Museums (CIMS) collections, the Government Art Collection, and several private lenders, alongside brand-new sculptures from Sasha Constable, artist and direct descendant will be on display.
Highlights include:
- Rare family portraits and early commissions
- Intimate personal items and keepsakes such as Maria Constable’s wedding ring, Constable’s paint box, and his Royal Academy diploma
- Works by Constable’s fellow Suffolk artists Thomas Gainsborough and George Frost
- Newly commissioned sculptures by his descendant Sasha Constable
Christchurch Mansion will evoke Regency era Ipswich, using authentic costumes and Napoleonic uniforms together with ceramics, books and even Lord Nelson memorabilia from the time. The Exhibition includes a recreation of the Constable family parlour, and photographic reenactments designed to evoke an immersive experience. These elements have been developed from materials in CIMS own collections and archival sources.
Following Constable: A Cast of Characters, Christchurch Mansion will host two further exhibitions as part of the Constable 250 celebrations, made possible thanks to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Opening on 11 July 2026, the second exhibition is The Hay Wain: Walking Constable’s Landscape This show celebrates Constable’s deep emotional bond with the Suffolk countryside, and brings unprecedented key landscape paintings from the National Gallery, The Tate Gallery, V&A Museum, The Royal Academy and The National Galleries of Scotland to Suffolk for the very first time to explore themes of landscape and place. The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund.
A highlight will be Constable’s iconic masterpiece, The Hay Wain (1821, The National Gallery) making its first ever visit to the county it depicts.
Other historic loans including Dedham Vale (1828, National Galleries of Scotland) will be seen alongside CIMS’s own Constable collection, including the two most personal paintings from his childhood home, Golding Constable’s Flower Garden and Golding Constable’s Kitchen Garden (both 1815).
The final exhibition of the year-long celebration will highlight the artistic and cultural relevancy of Constable’s art through a variety of contemporary and community responses. From 24 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, Constable to Contemporary will be a dynamic exploration showing how Constable continues to inspire artists today, featuring new works from Brave Art and community collaborations.
Alongside the exhibitions, a major 15-month county-wide events programme (Jan 2026–Mar 2027) is being delivered. The programme includes community workshops, school holiday activities, artist led sessions, talks, tours and a mobile exhibition with Suffolk Archives. A mixed reality popup exhibition at East Bergholt is supported by Babergh Council, and creative partnerships with Suffolk Artlink’s Brave Art group, Aspire Black Suffolk, Suffolk Libraries, CHIp and others provide a variety of experiences to be enjoyed by visitors. These activities aim to bring Constable’s legacy into the heart of communities and connect art, creativity and Suffolk’s natural environment with new audiences.
Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, said: “This is the first time such a significant collection of Constable-related works will be brought together in his home county. Many items including masterpieces and family treasures have been brought together, supported by national lenders.
“With Constable 250, we’re bringing world-class art home to Suffolk and inviting everyone to step into the places, the people and the ideas that shaped John Constable. I’d like to thank our funders and supporters for helping us realise this ambitious programme. We’re also deeply grateful to our lending partners such as the Tate, V&A, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland and the Government Art Collection for their generous loans that make this a truly once in a generation moment for Ipswich.
“This anniversary year not only celebrates Constable’s genius, but also the friends, family, landscapes and communities that shaped his story. Ipswich is incredibly proud to host what will be unrivalled displays and events. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to these inspiring exhibitions in beautiful Christchurch Mansion.”
Constable 250 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Loans for Constable 250 are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, The Friends of the Ipswich Museums, Kerseys Solicitors, East Anglia Art Fund and Art Friends Suffolk.
Details of the exhibitions and events can be found at Constable 250 Exhibitions | Ipswich Museums with advance bookings now open for all tickets.
