Constable 250: Suffolk Celebrations for the Painter's 250th Birthday

A series of exhibitions and events across Suffolk and Essex mark the 250th anniversary of John Constable's birth in 2026. The Constable 250 programme, led by Colchester + Ipswich Museums (CIMS) with National Lottery Heritage Fund support, includes three landmark shows at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich. 'Constable: A Cast of Characters' (28 March–14 June 2026) introduces the artist's circle, featuring work by descendant Sasha Constable. 'Constable: Walking the Landscape' (from July) includes loans of 'The Hay Wain' and 'Dedham Vale'. 'Constable to Contemporary' pairs his work with contemporary responses. Curator Emma Roodhouse, author of 'Creating Constable', curated the programme. At Gainsborough's House, Sudbury, an exhibition explores British landscape painting with works by Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, and others, centering on Constable's 'The Leaping Horse' (1819–25), on loan from the Royal Academy for the first time. The National Trust runs walks and workshops at Flatford, where Constable's father owned mills. The Munnings Art Museum in Dedham, celebrating its 65th year open, displays Constable's influence on Sir Alfred Munnings. Contemporary artists David Dawson and Kate Giles also exhibit at Gainsborough's House.