Great art in Suffolk Museums

The latest exhibition at Gainsborough’s House offers a chance to see some of the great works of art that are owned by other museums in the county.

Great Art in Suffolk Museums brings together masterpieces from Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, Moyse’s Hall in Bury St Edmunds, The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, The Red House in Aldeburgh and Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, in what can only be described as  an impressive display which also has much of interest.

Included in the show is one of my favourite Gainsborough portraits, that of William Wollaston (1731 – 1797) who was MP for Ipswich between 1768 and 1784.  In the picture, which is shown above, Wollaston is holding his flute which reflects his love of music.  This was a passion that he shared with the artist.  It is important to note that Wollaston is not playing the instrument.  No gentleman would be seen doing so at the time.  

This portrait was painted by Gainsborough in c. 1759 during the time that he lived in Ipswich just before he moved to Bath.  I think it is one of the first Gainsborough portraits that rival his later works.  The wooden figures of the ‘conversation piece’ are a thing of the past and Wollaston is revealed as a fully rounded character, not devoid of humour and a love for life.  The family seat was Finborough Hall, which Wollaston was obliged to sell in 1794 as a result of gambling debts.

There are many other interesting pictures in the show.  Portraits of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears from Red House are characteristically evocative, and the contributions from the National Horseracing Museum will have wide appeal for visitors.  There is also a chance to see for the first time a recently acquired landscape by Gainsborough which has been granted to Gainsborough’s House in lieu of inheritance taxes.

Great Art in Suffolk Museums runs at Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury until 18^th October 2015.  Gainsborough’s House is open every day of the week.  Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Become a Friend and get in free!