The Hay Wain arrives in Suffolk for first time in history

The Hay Wain arrives in Suffolk for first time in historyImage source, Qays Najm/BBCImage caption, A preview of The Hay Wain was given to pupils and the media on FridayByAlex Dunlop, at Christchurch Mansion and Alice Cunningham, SuffolkPublished38 minutes agoFor the first time ever, John Constable's Hay Wain painting has arrived in Suffolk to mark the 250th anniversary of the artist's birth.The oil painting created in 1821 has been exhibited at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, on loan to Colchester and Ipswich Museums from the National Gallery in London.The famous work depicts a rural scene near the River Stour in Flatford, but it was actually painted in Constable's London studio.It is on display until October and exhibition curator, Emma Roodhouse, said she had a "mini cry" when the painting was finally placed on the wall.Image source, The National GalleryImage caption, The Hay Wain is being exhibited in Suffolk for the first time since it was painted in 1821Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, John Constable, shown in a self portrait from about 1800, gained recognition after his deathConstable was born in 1776 in East Bergholt and pursued his passion for art in 1799.During his career he produced many paintings of the Suffolk countryside and around the River Stour, which helped give the area the name, Constable Country. Despite his many works, he struggled with recognition and sold very few pieces due to his scenic paintings not being considered fashionable at the time.He died in 1837 in London aged 60. Image source, Qays Najm/BBCImage caption, The Hay Wain presented in Christchurch Mansion The Hay Wain sits on a 6ft-wide canvas and depicts a scene at Flatford with a horse and cart in the river and Willy Lott's Cottage on the bank.Roodhouse said the exhibition had been years in the planning. "When the anniversary loomed on the horizon to celebrate 250 years of John Constable's birth, I thought it was only right to be able...