John Constable’s The Cornfield, one of the most beloved paintings from the National Gallery’s London collection, is on display in The Churchill Shopping Centre, Dudley, as part of a nationwide tour.
The painting, which has come to Dudley borough as part of the bi-annual Visits programme, is on display at units 18-20 until Sunday, July 2. It has previously been in Basildon, Newport on the Isle of Wight and Jarrow and will continue its journey until mid-July.
A wide range of activities are on offer for visitors to take part in at the exhibition site in Dudley town centre, which is open from 10am to 4pm. The fun includes art sessions with glass pens and collage materials, historic tours of the town centre and talks on the local glass industry and the landscape art of the Black Country. Pieces from Dudley Museum’s collection will also be on display alongside Constable’s masterpiece.
Kristien Neve from LCP Group, which owns and manages the Churchill Shopping Centre, said: “This is a unique opportunity to bring an iconic piece of art from the National Gallery collection to a wider audience in Dudley.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to host this beautiful Constable painting at the shopping centre and hope local people and visitors from further afield come and see The Cornfield while they have the chance.”
Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome The Cornfield to Dudley for our residents to enjoy. Being selected as one of the partners for the National Gallery’s Visits tour is a great honour for us.
“The artwork is available to view throughout the week with many activities to enjoy on site, so I hope visitors from the borough and beyond will make the trip into the town centre and take the opportunity to see this world-famous piece of art.”
Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery, said: “Running the Visits tour is a highlight for us at the Gallery. It is an exciting way for us to connect with new partners all over the UK, and to be part of their outstanding work with their local communities.”
Previous Visits tours have not only introduced thousands of people to the National Gallery but have also provided the opportunity to engage with and benefit from culture in their local areas in the longer term.
