Attracting more than 11,000 visitors since opening to the public on 11 July, The Hay Wain: Walking Constable's Landscape has already become one of the most popular and acclaimed exhibitions to be held at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich.
Tickets booked for the exhibition in its first eight weeks reached 11,219 - contributing to an overall total of 15,217 visits to the Mansion over the period. Before The Hay Wain: Walking Constable's Landscape closes on Sunday 4 October, Ipswich Borough Council is encouraging residents and visitors who have not yet seen it to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
At the heart of the exhibition is John Constable's most famous painting, The Hay Wain (1821), which has made its first-ever visit to Suffolk, the county whose landscape inspired the masterpiece. Visitors can also enjoy an exceptional collection of loans from the National Gallery, Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Academy and National Galleries of Scotland, displayed alongside treasures from Ipswich Museums’ own Constable collection.
This exhibition not only celebrates the life and work of John Constable but also shines a spotlight on other landscapes that inspired one of Britain's greatest artists. It forms part of the council’s year-long Constable 250 celebrations, marking the 250th anniversary of the artist's birth and exploring the landscapes, places and people that inspired some of Britain's most celebrated paintings.
Displaying The Hay Wain in Suffolk is a once-in-a-generation occasion and the Museums team at the Mansion is delighted that local residents, visitors and art lovers are responding so enthusiastically, with many describing it as “an experience not to be missed."
Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, said:
“This is the first time this iconic painting has been displayed in Constable’s home county of Suffolk. It’s wonderful that we have it in Ipswich, and great to see how visitors have loved the whole exhibition. I urge everyone to get to Christchurch Mansion before the exhibition ends on 4 October. As always, huge thanks to the brilliant Museums team who have procured The Hay Wain and other works and created a nationally important exhibition for us all to enjoy.”
The exhibition's popularity reflects both the enduring appeal of Constable's work and the significance of seeing world-class artworks displayed within the very county that inspired them. Alongside historic paintings, visitors can also experience Constable Ambisonic, an immersive sound installation featuring contemporary recordings from locations depicted in Constable's landscapes.
Tickets and visitor information are available via Constable 250 Exhibitions | Ipswich Museums
