The Hay Wain, John Constable's 1821 masterpiece, will be exhibited at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich in January–March 2027 to mark the artist's 250th anniversary. The National Gallery is loaning the painting, which will be shown with Constable's preparatory sketches as part of the Colchester and Ipswich Museums' "Constable 250" programme. The season includes three Ipswich exhibitions and major loans from the Tate, V&A, Royal Academy and National Galleries of Scotland, culminating in a show that pairs Constable with contemporary artists.
The Hay Wain Returns Home: Constable Masterpiece to Be Displayed in Suffolk for 250th Anniversary
The Hay Wain, John Constable's 1821 masterpiece, will be exhibited at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich in January–March 2027 to mark the artist's 250th anniversary. The National Gallery is loaning the painting, which will be shown with Constable's preparatory sketches as part of the Colchester and Ipswich Museums' "Constable 250" programme. The season includes three Ipswich exhibitions and major loans from the Tate, V&A, Royal Academy and National Galleries of Scotland, culminating in a show that pairs Constable with contemporary artists.
01:50 PM, 11/14/2025Culture
The Hay Wain returns to Suffolk for John Constable's 250th anniversary
The Hay Wain, John Constable's celebrated 1821 oil painting, will be exhibited at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich in 2027. The National Gallery in London is loaning the work, which will be shown alongside Constable's preparatory sketches.
This presentation is part of Colchester and Ipswich Museums' "Constable 250" programme, running from January to March 2027. The Hay Wain will appear in one of three Ipswich exhibitions and will be displayed alongside significant loans from the Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Academy of Arts and the National Galleries of Scotland.
The painting depicts an idyllic Flatford scene on the River Stour, featuring a horse and cart wading in the water and Willy Lott's cottage on the bank. Although its subject is the Suffolk landscape, Constable completed the canvas in his London studio.
"It will have real meaning for Ipswich and Suffolk, celebrating the profound impact of his art - a truly joyful moment for us all," said Emma Roodhouse, collections and learning curator for art at Colchester and Ipswich Museums.
John Constable was born in East Bergholt in 1776 and became one of Britain's most influential landscape painters before his death in 1837 at the age of 60. The area he painted is often referred to as part of "Constable country" because of his lasting association with the Suffolk landscape.
Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for planning and museums, said the council was "proud to play a central role" in bringing the painting to the town. Sasha Constable, an artist and descendant of the painter, called the news "wonderful" and welcomed the masterpiece back to the landscape that inspired so much of his work.
The project has the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The programme's final exhibition, "Constable to Contemporary", will explore the artist's ongoing relevance by pairing his work with contemporary responses from modern artists.
Visitor information: Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich — exhibition period January–March 2027. Exact dates and ticketing details will be announced by Colchester and Ipswich Museums.