The acquisition, which has also been supported financially by the Borough Council and the Friends of Ipswich Museums means A Lime Kiln will become part of the largest collection of Constable’s work outside London.

The oil sketch, full title A Lime Kiln, beside the River Stour, between Dedham and Stratford St Mary 1815-16, was completed early in the artist’s career. Its addition to the collection at the Mansion will coincide with a local celebration of his work.

Next year marks the bicentenary of Ipswich’s most significant works by Constable, Golding Constable’s Flower Garden and Golding Constable’s Kitchen Garden. Also in 2015, the artist’s Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows is due to arrive in Ipswich as part of a nationwide tour, thanks to the Museums Service’s involvement in the Aspire Project that helped secure the painting for the nation. 

The sketch of the lime kiln recalls a time when lime was an important building material as the basis for mortars, renders and distemper for painting walls. The majority of such kilns were built between 1750 and 1850 and were typically sited next to the sea, rivers or canals to make transportation of the lime easier in the period before the railways.

Ipswich is the only place in Constable’s native Suffolk where his original works can be viewed. The HLF-supported acquisition will be accompanied by a programme of activities and events to engage local communities and visitors with aspects of Constable’s work, its meaning and its relevance to the area and its heritage.

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF, East of England, said: “It is a great pleasure to have supported the purchase of A Lime Kiln which will be a tremendous addition to the impressive collection of the artist’s works at Ipswich. This project provides an exciting opportunity for people to connect with one of the iconic figures of Suffolk.”

Councillor Bryony Rudkin, the Council’s culture portfolio-holder, said: “This is an important addition to our important collection of Constables and we are grateful for the support of the HLF and the Friends.”

Notes to Editors

• The acquisition of A Lime Kiln was financially supported by HLF, the Art Fund, the ACE/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Ipswich Borough Council, the Friends of the Ipswich Museums, the Constable Trust and the Scarfe Trust.
• Constable’s depiction of the lime kiln is said to be typical of his "plein air" (open air) sketches that he was producing at the time and which he would use for later reference in his work.
• The paintings Golding Constable’s Flower Garden and Golding Constable’s Kitchen Garden were representations of the gardens of the artist’s father.
• An early owner of A Lime Kiln was Parisian music-hall singer Yvette Guilbert (1867 – 1944) who made her name at the Moulin Rouge and also made successful tours to London and New York. She was no stranger to the art world, being a favourite subject for works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
• One of the greatest masterpieces of British art, Constable’s Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows 1831, was secured for the British public in 2013 through major grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£15.8 million), the Art Fund (£1m), a very substantial donation from The Manton Foundation, and Tate Members. The acquisition was part of a ground-breaking new partnership, called Aspire, between five national and regional galleries: Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales; the National Galleries of Scotland; Colchester and Ipswich Museums; Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum; and Tate Britain.

Further information

Vicky Wilford, HLF press office, on tel: 020 7591 6046 / 07973 401937, and via email: vickyw@hlf.org.uk;  or Phil Cooper, HLF press office, on: tel: 07889 949173

Max Stocker, Communications and Marketing Manager, Ipswich Borough Council, on: tel: 01473 432035 and mobile 07736826104