Paintings from the permanent collection
1st April to 25th October 2026
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.
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.
Current Exhibitions
65 Years of the Munnings Art Museum
1st April to 25th October 2026
In 2026 the museum is celebrating its 65 year history and its formidable founder, Violet Munnings. Violet was the driving force behind both the establishment of the museum in 1961 and Munnings’ own career from 1920 until his death in 1959. The museum today is as much Violet’s legacy as it is that of her husband’s.
The museum is presenting a short overview its history with items from the archive, objects and paintings from the both the original collection and later acquisitions.
Pictures from Private Collections
1st April to 25th October 2026
The special exhibition charting the museum’s history culminates with twenty paintings from Private Collections, many rarely seen in public. These paintings not only demonstrate the versatility of Sir Alfred Munnings as an artist but highlight the continued popularity of his work amongst art collectors today.
Paintings include The Woodcutter from 1899, Who’s the Lady?, c1945, created from an earlier study of Princess Mary and there is a focus on The Grey Horse (left) started in 1913 and finished in 1924, a large, powerful picture full of movement and light.
Private Collection
The Influence of John Constable
1st April to 25th October 2026
In the 250th anniversary year of the birth of John Constable a second exhibition explores the influence of Constable on the life and work of Sir Alfred Munnings. Both these artists were born in Suffolk, immersed in its natural beauty which steered the course of their painting and, could be argued, added to Munnings’ rejection of the Modern Art movements.
Two rooms are filled with Munnings’ sky studies and landscapes which Constable would have recognised. A Constable sketchbook – or maybe not!? – is also on display, a gift from Violet to her husband in 1953.
Past Exhibitions
Royal Collection Trust
The Royal Collection Enterprises LTD 2025
“A Long, Glittering Line”
21st June to 26th October 2025
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 was delighted to present these two paintings, kindly lent by His Majesty The King and Tate, which were displayed alongside their rarely seen preparatory work from the museum’s own collection. This special exhibition explored the story and context of the commission and the approaches and painting techniques used by Munnings to complete the project.
Explore more past exhibitions on ArtUK
