The Hay Wain: Christchurch Mansion Lawn, Ipswich

This highly acclaimed, atmospheric play with music has been described as East Anglia’s very own Les Miserables, bringing to life the people that populate the picture, lives defined not by simplicity and virtue, but by hardship, hope and resilience.

Turning the traditional, bucolic, chocolate box ideal of The Hay Wain on its head, you’ll never look at the landscape in quite the same way again.

This show was first staged to mark the 200th anniversary of the painting but this year is being re-staged as part of Constable 250, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Constable, who would become one of the most important of all British painters. To commemorate his life and work Colchester + Ipswich Museums are presenting  a programme of exhibitions and activities at the heart of which will be three landmark exhibitions at Ipswich’s Christchurch Mansion.

These will 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, including The Hay Wain itself. 