The Munnings Art Museum is open 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday + Bank Holiday Mondays, until 26th October 2025.
You do not need to purchase a ticket in advance.
The Tea Room in the garden open is open 10.30am to 4.30pm on days when the museum is open.
enquiries@munningsmuseum.org.uk 01206 322127
Address: Munnings Art Museum
Castle House, Castle Hill
Dedham, Colchester, Essex
CO7 6AZ
“Who would have thought I should ever be President of the Royal Academy, or be knighted by the King? ” What a go ! ” as an Essex farmer friend wrote to me in a letter.” – Alfred Munnings
Upcoming Event
Exhibition Tour: A Long Glittering Line
Wednesday 9th July
12.45-1.30pm
£15
National Art Pass Holders / Student £10
Museum Year Pass Holders Free but please book in advance
Out of hours tour of “A Long Glittering Line” with a curator, followed by a self-guided visit of the museum from 1.30pm.
Royal Collection Trust
The Royal Collection Enterprises LTD 2025
Exhibition
Opens on Saturday 21st June 2025
Runs until Sunday 26th October 2025
“A Long, Glittering Line”
In 1925, rising star of the art world, Alfred Munnings was commissioned by Queen Mary to paint the Royal Family arriving at Ascot. Excited by the challenge, Munnings was also enthralled by the pomp and colour of the Royal Procession which he described later in his autobiography as “a long, glittering line”.
Over several days Munnings sketched the procession making its way through Windsor Great Park and during the year that followed Munnings, working for some of the time in a makeshift studio in the stables at Windsor Castle, captured the necessary details to complete his vision for the finished scene.
Of the resulting pictures, “The State Procession to Ascot, 1925”, was purchased by Queen Mary and is now in the Royal Collection. A second painting, “Their Majesties’ Return from Ascot”, a large and striking canvas, was purchased by Tate in 1937.
The Munnings Art Museum is delighted to present these two paintings, kindly lent by His Majesty The King and Tate, which will be displayed alongside their rarely seen preparatory work from the museum’s own collection. This special exhibition will tell the story and context of the commission and explore the approaches and painting techniques used by Munnings to complete the project.
Paintings by
Sir Alfred Munnings
The walls of Castle House are sumptuously adorned with both well-known pictures by Sir Alfred Munnings and lesser seen sketches and studies taken from the artist’s studio when he died in 1959. Thickly painted impressionistic scenes of ponies standing still against the bright East Anglian sunshine jostle for position with smoothly painted racing thoroughbreds, jockeys a-blaze in brightly coloured silks. Delicate pencil portraits of Indian soldiers returning, wearily, from the Western Front pull at the soul in stark contrast to the amusing cartoons which give rise to a small chuckle.
Sir Alfred Munnings’ former studio stands in the grounds of Castle House with ponies looking on from the paddocks nearby. The studio still contains his props and painting tools.
Events
Tickets are available for our 2025 programme of events. There are familiar painting days alongside tours, talks and creative workshops relating to the special exhibition.
Feeling inspired
Learn to paint and draw horses at home with Jim Power.
This four-part series of pre-recorded workshops will take you through the basic steps needed to successfully draw and paint horses.
Session 1: Basics of Drawing the Horse
Session 2: Adding colour and form to the Horse
Session 3: Looking more closely at the horse’s head.
Session 4: Painting the horse’s head in oils.
Not brave enough to pick up a paintbrush? Listen and watch to find out more about the man and his work
Curator’s Talk: The Life and Work of Sir Alfred Munnings
Pre-recorded ONLINE event.
Marcia Whiting, Curatorial Associate, provides an overview of Alfred Munnings’ life and work.
You will be sent a link to play the film via Vimeo (installation not required). Recording lasts 41 minutes.
Art History Festival 2024
The sport of Kings inspired the painter Sir Alfred Munnings to create some of his most well known paintings. See how these pictures were created and how they have travelled the globe, inspiring the artists of today. For the Art History Festival 2024 Art History: Local to Global, we present this short film in partnership with Art Historian, Christopher Garibaldi and the National Sporting Library and Museum, Virginia, USA.
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