To commemorate his life and work Colchester + Ipswich Museums (CIMS) will present Constable 250, at the heart of which will be three landmark exhibitions, featuring major loans from across the UK.
A highlight will be his iconic masterpiece, The Hay Wain (1821, The National Gallery) making its first ever visit to the county it depicts. Ironically, synonymous as it may be with the Suffolk countryside, The Hay Wain was actually painted in Constable’s London studio. In Ipswich, The Hay Wain will be reunited with its preparatory sketches, part of the Ipswich collection.
Constable 250 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to explore Constable’s art and legacy through 2026.
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.
Today, Constable is hailed for the way he changed how we look at landscape and create art. A legacy of which, is that the area where he was born, grew up, and frequently painted is now known as ‘Constable Country’.
Nevertheless, the rural idyllic location- in which a horse and cart cross the River Stour, with Willy Lott’s House on the left bank – is recognisably Flatford, near Dedham and, much like other views Constable painted of the local landscape, it remains largely unchanged.
So, there is much to celebrate across the coming year, with community events, artists’ responses and learning programmes to create a deeper connection with the natural world Constable depicted.
Located at the beautiful Tudor Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, the three exhibitions will explore Constable’s art and his legacy.
Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, said: “Ipswich Borough Council is proud to play a central role in celebrating the life and legacy of John Constable through these landmark exhibitions at Christchurch Mansion – one of our most treasured heritage assets. Constable 250 will bring world-class artworks to Ipswich for the very first time, thanks to CIMS and the generous support of our partners. This collaborative effort reflects our commitment to preserving heritage, supporting cultural tourism, and inspiring future generations through art. Throughout the 250-anniversary year, we’re creating an extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for residents and visitors to experience the landscapes that inspired one of Britain’s greatest painters.”
Constable: A Cast of Characters – 28 March – 14 June 2026
Constable: A Cast of Characters will introduce visitors to the people who inspired and supported the artist. Drawing on objects within Colchester + Ipswich Museums collections, such as letters and costumes, along with important loans from private collections and the Government Art Collection, the exhibition represents a chance to explore Constable’s portraiture. Many of the objects included have never been on public display before.
It will also showcase new sculptures created by Sasha Constable (b.1970), international sculptor and a direct descendant of the artist himself. A Cast of Characters will also introduce lesser-known artists in the Colchester + Ipswich Museums collections who had links to Constable.
Constable: Walking the landscape – 11 July – 4 October 2026
Constable: Walking the landscape brings unprecedented key loans from the National Gallery, Tate, V&A, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland to Suffolk for the very first time to explore the theme of walking.
Historic loans including The Hay Wain and Dedham Vale (1828, National Galleries of Scotland) will be seen alongside Colchester + 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). Curatorial Advisor for the exhibition is Peter Harrap.
Constable to Contemporary – 24 October 2026 – 28 February 2027
The final exhibition of the year-long celebration, Constable to Contemporary juxtaposes Constable’s ongoing artistic and cultural relevancy with contemporary responses to his art, much of it created during the year.
Collectively, the trio of exhibitions will also act as a platform for community engagement work, including a series of events and workshops, all inspired by themes in Constable’s art.
Constable 250 is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund grants, Arts Council England, Paul Mellon Centre, Babergh District Council, the Friends of the Ipswich Museums, Kerseys LLP and East Anglia Art Fund.
Main image shows The Hay Wain, John Constable, 1821 (c) The National Gallery, London
