I grew up with a reproduction of John Constable’s Haywain on the wall of my family home. Nobody in the house knew much about art, including me, but that image stuck with me. I never thought I would get to see where it’s based, but that’s what you can do if you visit Flatford. The cottage on the left of the painting is still there, and the water still retains the shape from the painting. The tree line is a little different, but it’s amazing how much of it remains the same, and the same stands for other views along the river Stour on the Suffolk/Essex border.
It’s a must-see if you want to honour the great painter’s 250th birthday, which is in June this year. John Constable was born in East Bergholt, a village in Suffolk, and much of the county served as inspiration for his paintings. He may have painted and finished much of his work in London, but it’s his scenes of Suffolk that he’s most famous for.
This life in two places helps explain some of the inconsistencies in his works, such as the cart in the Haywain not looking like one designed to carry hay, and the fact that this is the wrong place to try to cross the river. The working theory is they are stanching the wheels, i.e., letting them absorb water so they expand and fit their metal brackets. However, that was normally done by leaving the wheels in the water overnight. Ultimately, it was likely artistic licence, but he was one of the greatest landscape artists of all time, so he should get a free pass.
As one of Suffolk’s most famous names, many of the local museums are getting together to celebrate Constable 250. Christchurch Mansion has a year-long programme starting with a look at the wider Constable family, the people who inspired him, and those he worked for. There are costumes, plenty of portraits, and some smaller landscapes. Alongside these are the works of one of his descendants, Sasha Constable, who has created sculptures to reflect her own life and that of her great-great-great-grandfather.
Later in the year, the Haywain will arrive alongside many of his other masterpieces from London museums to be shown in his home county, followed by an exhibition of local contemporary artists inspired by Constable. The historic mansion is also a superb venue and worth visiting for its historical elements alone.
Thomas Gainsborough was an inspiration for the young Constable, and while they never met, it’s no surprise to find Gainsborough’s House joining in on the celebrations. They have two masterpieces by Constable, including The Leaping Horse and his Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, on display alongside Gainsborough’s work for comparison. The exhibition also includes pieces by Constable’s great rival JMW Turner, and two contemporary artists inspired by Constable, Kate Giles and David Dawson, who is best known as having been Lucien Freud’s assistant.
Moving forward in time, Albert Munnings was an artist inspired by Constable, and we can see that in his cloud studies at Munnings Art Museum. Munnings is best known for his paintings of horses, but lived a fascinating life where he was blinded in one eye, went on to be a war artist, and married Violet Munnings, who had her dog stuffed and would carry it around after it died – the stuffed dog is part of the museum’s collection, and remains on display.
Munnings is an artist who arguably lived 50 years too late, as, in his time, art was moving towards Modernism, which he railed against, calling it ‘damned nonsense’ in a speech at the Royal Academy of Arts. His most playful painting lampoons critics examining works by Picasso and a sculpture in the style of Barbara Hepworth.
The most surprising find in my tour of Suffolk was Constable’s Ascension in Dedham Church. It’s a rare religious work by the artist, and if it didn’t have a label, I wouldn’t believe it was by him. It feels more like the work of a Baroque painter like Murillo than a John Constable.
Making my way around Suffolk on a couple of beautiful Spring days makes it obvious why this part of the UK was a source of inspiration for John Constable. His work and the locations have inspired many generations of painters since. Constable is one of Britain’s most loved painters, and this tour of Constable country has only reaffirmed my admiration for one of art history’s greats. I’m sure he’ll still be fondly remembered in a further 250 years from now. Happy 250th birthday, Mr Constable.
Flatford, Suffolk, is operated by the National Trust.
Constable: A Cast of Characters & works by Sasha Constable are at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, until 14th June. The full programme runs until 28th February 2027.
Gainsborough, Turner & Constable: Inventing Landscape is on at Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury, until 11th October.
The Influence of John Constable is on at Munnings Art Museum, until 25th October.
Lead image copyright of The National Gallery, London. Second image is of the Christchurch Mansion exhibition. © Douglas Atfield. Third image is a work by Kate Giles. Copyrighted by the artist.
