The Hay Wain (1821) is one of the most famous and instantly recognisable landscape paintings in British art. This summer, in celebration of Constable’s 250th birthday on 11 June, The Hay Wain leaves its home in the National Gallery, London to travel to Suffolk for the first time.
As part of the year-long Constable 250 celebrations at Ipswich Borough Council’s historic Christchurch Mansion, The Hay Wain by John Constable RA will take pride of place in the exhibition The Hay Wain: Walking Constable’s Landscape between 11 July and 4 October 2026. This famous painting is making its first ever visit to the county alongside unprecedented key loans from Tate, V&A, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland and private collections – all appearing together in Suffolk in this unique exhibition exploring themes of walking, landscape and place.
These include Dedham Vale (1828, National Galleries of Scotland) which will be seen alongside Ipswich Museum’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).
In the same year that The Hay Wain was painted, Constable wrote to his friend John Fisher, ‘I should paint my own places best - painting is but another word for feeling.’
In this second of three exhibitions during Constable 250 visitors will be able to see paintings that show the scenery he loved best and that made him a painter, by taking a walk with Constable from the family home in East Bergholt, down to the industry of milling at Flatford, across to Dedham and past the many locks, up to Gun Hill for expansive views across the Vale that we now know as Constable Country. This journey can be experienced through early watercolours, oil sketches, and major ‘six-footer’ masterpieces, like The Hay Wain, created for exhibition.
Constable’s approach to landscape painting, working directly from nature outdoors and depicting everyday local scenery, was seen at the time as radically different and he struggled to gain recognition in the London art world. However, when The Hay Wain was shown in Paris, France in 1824 it caused a sensation and was seen as a breakthrough in landscape painting. Entitled Landscape: Noon by Constable the painting had been nicknamed The Hay Wain by his friend Archdeacon Fisher. Over time, it has since become an iconic representation of a disappearing way of life after the Industrial Revolution and an image of the ‘traditional English rural landscape’, even though it started life as a picture that exploded traditions of classical landscape painting.
Two contemporary artists bring their own responses to the theme of walking and landscape. Stuart Bowditch has spent months recording the sounds of today in the locations of Constable’s most famous artworks to feature as Constable Ambisonic a sound artwork of field recordings .
Whilst contemporary painter and Curatorial Advisor for the exhibition, Peter Harrap, has created drawings and paintings that reflect Constable’s method of walking and observation outdoors.
Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, says:
“Constable 250 is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to celebrate the landscapes and influences that inspired one of Britain’s greatest artists, and we’re proud that as the county town of Suffolk, Ipswich is playing such a central role. Welcoming The Hay Wain to Christchurch Mansion for the first time is an extraordinary moment for us, bringing this iconic painting back to the county which shaped it.
“This will be a landmark moment and highlight of the council’s wider, year-long programme, giving residents and visitors alike even more reason to see, connect with and explore many facets of Constable’s life, work and enduring appeal for art lovers worldwide.”
Ipswich Museums is presenting Constable 250, a programme of exhibitions and activities at the heart of which are three landmark exhibitions at Ipswich’s Christchurch Mansion. There is a last chance to see Constable: A Cast of Characters which is running until 14 June at Christchurch Mansion to introduce visitors to the people who inspired and supported the artist including works by Suffolk artists Thomas Gainsborough and George Frost and lesser-known artists in the Ipswich Museums collections.
There is also an exploration of the Regency period that Constable lived in, including family items and select pieces from costume collections, and a showcase of new art created by Sasha Constable, international sculptor and a direct descendant of the artist himself.
Constable 250 is supported by National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, Arts Council England, Paul Mellon Centre, Babergh District Council, the Friends of the Ipswich Museums, Kerseys LLP and East Anglia Art Fund.
The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.
Book your tickets here: Constable 250 Exhibitions | Ipswich Museums
Adults: £10
Children (under 16): Free
Reduced Rate: £8
PICTURE CREDIT
The Hay Wain, John Constable, 1821. National Gallery, London
Constable 250 | March 2026 – March 2027 | Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Suffolk born artist, John Constable (1776-1837), who would become one of the most important of all British painters. To commemorate his life and work Colchester + Ipswich Museums are presenting Constable 250, a programme of exhibitions and activities at the heart of which will be three landmark exhibitions at Ipswich’s Christchurch Mansion.
These showcase rare and internationally significant artworks on loan from the National Gallery, Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland, Government Art Collection and private collections.
Inspiring varied community events and learning programmes, Constable 250 is exploring Constable’s art and impact sparking connections between art and the natural world for audiences across the county.
About Colchester and Ipswich Museums - Christchurch Mansion is owned and funded by Ipswich Borough Council and run by the Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service partnership. Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service (CIMS) is jointly run by Colchester City Council and Ipswich Borough Council. CIMS was formed in 2007 to provide stronger, more dynamic joint services for each location, and their residents and visitors. CIMS manages three properties belonging to Ipswich Borough Council - Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich Art Gallery and Ipswich Museum. Colchester heritage venues are Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum and the Natural History Museum, and the CIMS Resource Centre is based in Colchester. More on Constable 250 here.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
About the Garfield Weston Foundation: The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family founded grant-maker that gives money to support charities across the UK. The Foundation supports charities operating in a wide variety of sectors that make a positive difference within their communities. The Foundation was established by W. Garfield Weston in 1958, through an endowment of shares in Wittington Investments – which holds a majority stake in Associated British Foods. This successful business model exists to this day. Each year the sum the Foundation has given away has grown: in the most recent financial year 2024-2025 the Foundation gave away almost £130 million to 2,967 charities. Since its establishment, the Foundation has generated funds of nearly £1.7 billion, which have been donated to UK charities.
Art Fund is the national charity for museums and galleries. For over 120 years, it has helped institutions across the UK to develop and share their collections, invest in people and expertise, grow their audiences and inspire the next generation. Art Fund connects museums and people with great art and culture through funding, advocacy and initiatives, because access to art is vital for a healthy society. It champions the sector through the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year Award - the world’s largest museum prize - and supports museum professionals through dedicated training and grant programmes. Independent and people-powered, Art Fund is supported by 142,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, as well as generous contributions from individuals, trusts and foundations. The National Art Pass offers free or discounted entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places in the UK, 50% off major exhibitions, a subscription to Art Quarterly magazine and Art In Your Inbox newsletter. www.artfund.org